Funeral services celebrating the life of Ira W. Jones, Jr., 88, will be held at 2 pm on Monday, March 22, 2021 at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home in Haughton, LA. Interment will follow at Hill Crest. Visitation will be held from 4-5 pm for family and 5-6 pm for friends on Sunday, March 21. Officiating will be Rev Kendall Docter.
Ira was born in Newellton, Louisiana on November 23, 1932 to Ira W. Jones, Sr. and Hester Saline Altom Jones. He was their third son and had five other siblings. After living in both Point and Minden, LA, his family settled in Bossier City and Ira attended Bossier schools. He passed away on Thursday, March 18, 2021 after a lengthy battle with delusional dementia Alzheimer’s disease. He was a veteran paratrooper of the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, and a member of the Barksdale United Methodist Church.
Ira was married to his loving wife Sally Shirey Jones for 61 years. They have two sons, David W. Jones of Baton Rouge, LA, and Johnny R. Jones of Hot Springs, AR. His four grandchildren knew him as Popa and loved to spend time with him on frequent trips to “Bigland,” their tree farm and family camp in East Texas.
Ira was proud of his career with the Bossier City Fire Department, attaining the rank of Captain, retiring in 1976 after 20 years of service. After retiring from the fire department, Ira was a successful businessman owning and operating Ira’s Golf Cart Sales, Inc. in North Bossier for 20 years along with his wife and sons.
Ira’s favorite pastime was golf. He began golfing in 1947 when he caddied for “brass” at Barksdale AFB. He was even invited to play in the Dallas PGA Open Golf Tournament. He also enjoyed fishing with his sons and playing cards with friends. But Ira’s greatest love was his family; and he will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Lamar Jones, Doyle Jones and Glover Jones.
He is survived by his wife, Sally Jones; sons, David Jones; Johnny Jones and wife Vanessa; grandchildren, Stephanie Jones Daub and husband Jon of Houston, Jennifer Jones of Baton Rouge, Conner Jones of Baton Rouge, and Natalie Jones of Houston; he happily anticipated the arrival of his first great-grandchild, Sophia Daub; sisters, Loretta Hambrice and late husband Don, Laverne Ferlito and husband Nickie; sister-in-law, Melba Woods and late husband Tom; other loving in-laws, nieces and nephews and a host of long-time friends.
Pallbearers will be Mike Grigsby, Bill Pittman, Gary Binyon, David Hall and Jimmy Burford.
Honorary pallbearers will be J.W. Slack and Carl Kelly.
The family would like to express sincere gratitude to the staff at The Blake at Bossier City, Regional Hospice Care Group of NW Louisiana and Professional Sitter Services LLC. They would also wish to express sincere appreciation to Ira’s favorite sitter Latoya.
