Rev. Theiss L. Jones

Memorial services for Rev. Theiss L. Jones, age 71, of Temple will be held at 1:30 PM Saturday February 28, 2009 at the First Baptist Church in Temple with Dr. Jerry Carlisle, Rev. Martin Knox and Rev. Charlie Dodd officiating. Private family burial will be held prior to the memorial service. Theiss died Wednesday February 25, 2009 in a local hospital. Rev. Jones was born April 10, 1937 in Abilene, the son of Theiss Stephen and Hattie Lusby Jones. Theiss graduated from Abilene High School in 1955 and graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1959. He was a graduate assistant to Dr. Euell Porter from 1959-1960. Rev. Jones received Jesus as his personal Savior in 1946 at age 9, at age 13 he answered yes to the call of God to live his life as a full-time minister of the Gospel: at age 16 he was affirmed by God that he was to use his God-given gifts to be a Minister of Music in a local Baptist Church, he began his active service as a Minister of Music at age 19 in 1957, he retired from full-time service in May 2002, but continued in service as a minister until his death. During his college career he was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Professional Music Fraternity, Alpha Chi Honorary Scholarship Fraternity and Baylor Chapel Choir and was President, Student Conductor and Soloist with the choir. He also served as President, Student Conductor and soloist of the Baylor University A Capella Choir. Theiss was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by the First Baptist Church of South Miami, Florida in 1970. He began his ministry leadership working part-time with the Central Baptist Church, Italy, Texas, First Baptist Church, Fairfield and Midway Baptist Church (later named FBC Woodway), Waco. His full-time ministries included First Baptist Church, Electra, Gambrell Street Baptist Church, Ft. Worth, Lakeside Baptist Church, Dallas, First Baptist Church of South Miami, Miami, Florida, Willow Meadows Baptist Church, Houston and First Baptist Church, Temple. During retirement some short term assignments included Washington Baptist Church, Washington, VT, Baptist Fellowship, Randolph, VT, Concord Community Church, Concord, VT, Central Baptist Church, Hillsboro, First Baptist Church, Troy, and Piermont Congregational Church, Piermont, NH. He has also been employed by Scanio-Harper Funeral Home since 2003. Professional memberships included The Singing Men of Texas, The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, The Baptist Church Music Conference, The Choristers Guild, and The CenturyMen where he was selected by audition in 1972; served as Section Leader, Chaplain, Vice-President, President-Elect, President (1999), Past-President and Orientation Director. Theiss participated with The CenturyMen in International Mission Projects to Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal in 1973, China, 1988, Russia, Poland and Czech Republic in 1993, Brazil in 1998, Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 2003, and England, Wales and Scotland in 2008. He conducted choral clinics, handbell clinics, senior adult choir leadership training clinics; led music for revivals in Texas, New Mexico and Florida; conducted Youth Mission projects to Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Illinois, Idaho, Utah, Vermont and Jamaica; conducted Adult Mission Projects (medical, construction and music) to Mexico, the Rio Grand Valley and Vermont. He was a leader and Bible Study Leader of youth and college Ski Retreats; organized and directed children's youth, adult and senior adult choirs; and organized and directed musicals and pageants for all ages. Theiss served as Associational Music Director, Regional Music Coordinator for Baptist churches; served as short-term Interim Pastor and Advisor for churches in Vermont and New Hampshire; and served with Suzie as Volunteer Host Couple for Marble, CO Retreat. Theiss was inducted into the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Walter Gilewicz Hall of Fame, receiving the highest Distinguished Musicians Award in 2002 and named with Suzie as Volunteers for the Year by Marble Retreat in 2003. Theiss was a member of the Temple Kiwanis Club, Advisory Board of the Temple-Belton ACTS Television Network and Advisory Committee to the Temple Independent School District Board of Trustees. Survivors include his wife, Suzanne C. Jones of Temple, a son, Samuel Theiss Jones and wife, Amy of Arlington, a daughter, Sarah Richardson and husband, Bill of Santa Clara, CA, five grandchildren, Zachary Theiss Jones of Marshall, Stephanie Jones of Arlington, Caleb Theiss, Joshua and Daniel Richardson all of Santa Clara. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Greater Things Campaign, c/o First Baptist Church, 102 West Barton Avenue, Temple, Texas 76501 or The CenturyMen, c/o Bill James, 302 Heritage Hills Dr., Fredericksburg, TX 78624.