Billy James Jones

BILLY JAMES JONES of Belton, MO – Billy “Papaw” Jones, passed away unexpectedly at 3:33 am on August 24, 2021 in a Kansas City, MO hospital. He was born July 17th, 1958, in Vinita, OK to Raymond Arthur Jones and Alma Lee (Stahl) Jones. Billy attended Belton High School and served in the United States Army until his medical discharge. In 1980 he met and married the love of his life, Mary Sue (Akes) Jones. Together they had 3 daughters. Billy was a concrete finisher by trade with additional skills in plumbing and general construction. He was an unconditionally loved husband, great father, patient grandfather, gifted musician, and artist. Billy’s heart was huge, and his family was second in importance only to serving God. He routinely said, “friends will come and go but your family will always be there”. Billy accomplished many things in his life and left a legacy by passing on his love of Christ, music, art, history, riding, the outdoors, and shooting to his children and grandchildren. He often took the grandkids on nature walks, motorcycle rides, watched cartoons, taught them how to build things and was always available for a hug and shoulder to cry on. He pushed his family to work hard and to live up to their potential by saying “be better today than you were yesterday” and “leave things better than you found them”.

“Papaw gave me his great aim”, Noah Gross. “I was only using him for his ramen noodles”, Emily Gross. “He was the best Papaw I could ever have”, Jonathan Paul. “Papaw makes nature walks fun”, Elizabeth Paul.

He was a member of Gospel Tabernacle in Belton, MO. There he played guitar on the worship team and built and ran a recording studio memorializing others love for music as well. Billy shared Christ’s love through music with many who were ill and families who had lost loved ones. He enjoyed spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren, riding his Harley, playing music, recording music, creating art, talking about politics, and ministering to all he met. He loved serving others in any way he could and professed Christ’s love to everyone he knew.

He was always saying “thank you” for every big and little thing and was humble even though he was extremely talented in everything he did. He treated each person he met with respect and as an individual. He genuinely cared about people and their souls and wanted nothing more than to spend eternity with family, friends, and Jesus. Billy will be greatly missed by not only those closest to him but also by each person he met.

Billy is preceded in death by his father Raymond Jones and survived by his mother Alma Jones; wife Mary Jones; daughters: Alicia Morris husband Scott Morris, Patricia Jones-Paul husband Philippe Paul and Amy Anderson husband Kyle Anderson; Grandchildren: Noah, Emily, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Nathaniel and Amelia; brothers: Raymond Jones Jr wife Christine Jones and Larry Jones wife Marlene Jones; sister Ruth Christian husband David Christian.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcgilleygeorgebelton.com for the Jones family.