Gatlin Thomas Jones, of Stonewall, Louisiana went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at the age of 98. He was born August 10, 1923 in Orth, Texas to Regina Williams Jones and Marvin Jones.
SFC/E-7 Gatlin Thomas Jones entered the U.S. Army in 1940. He served with Company C 405th Infantry. He trained to become a mess sergeant at Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, and Camp Maxey, Texas. Before going overseas in 1944, he married his wife of 77 years, Dorothy Colleen Kuehn. In WW II, he served in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, EAME (Europe-Africa-Middle East) Campaign Metal with 2 Bronze Stars, Combat Infantry Badge and Good Conduct Medal.
After returning to the United States, Gatlin and Dorothy started their family, which grew to 4 children, Cheryl Ann Darrow, Debbie Cragar, Jennifer Humphreys and Gatlin Kuehn Jones. He continued to serve in the Army as a food service instructor, serving, in Louisiana, Texas, Korea, New Mexico and California until his retirement in October 1962.
He and his family moved to Big Spring, TX where he became a food supervisor at the Texas State Hospital. He also continued with his love of training English Pointer field trial dogs that he took while in California. After leaving the state hospital, he became a professional field trial dog trainer and travelled through the U.S. and Canada receiving numerous trophy awards.
Having been raised on the cattle ranch in Orth, Texas his love of horses never tired. Once he retired from the Army, he had a horse wherever he lived. He was able to continue riding in the field trials as well as in rodeos and parades in Texas.
In his spare time, he had a vegetable and fruit garden. The rows had to be perfectly straight. He was always reading how to improve his garden. He was generous with his garden produce and gave to neighbors and family. He continued his love of gardening when he moved to Stonewall, Louisiana to live with his daughter and son-in-law until 2019, at the age of 96, when his health no longer allowed. He then enjoyed sitting on the back porch in his recliner, watching the birds and animals and admiring God’s beautiful outdoors.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He is no longer in pain and has ridden off into the sunset.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 77 years, Dorothy Colleen Jones; daughters Cheryl Ann Darrow of Houston, Texas, Deborah Carole Cragar (James E.) of Stonewall, Louisiana and Jennifer Humphreys (Gary) of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; son, Gatlin Kuehn Jones (Bonnie) of Denham Springs, Louisiana; sister, Thalie Watson of Amarillo, Texas; nephew, Jeff Dyer of Everman,Texas; grandchildren, Kenneth W. Gillihan, Debbie Ann Gillihan, Bryan E. Cragar, Kevin J. Cragar, Laurie Richard, Kari Humphreys, April Humphreys and Gatlin Jones; 16 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gatlin was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Iris Maye Cousyn; brothers, J.B. Jones, Marvin Jones, Cecil Jones, Levi Jones and Jeffrey Jones.
A visitation for Gatlin will be held Wednesday, September 1, 2021 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Rd., Shreveport, Louisiana 71108. A graveside service for Gatlin will be held Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Rd, Keithville, Louisiana 71047. Chaplin Don Howard will officiate.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Christus Hospice Staff and the Shreveport Manor Nursing Home Staff during this time.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gatlin's memory may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate.
