Elton Grady Jones

Elton Grady Jones, Our beloved daddy, Elton Grady Jones, 83, died on September 11, 2014, after a 15 year hard fought battle against heart disease. He was born on October 17, 1930 in Lee County, Texas to Lem Harvey Jones, Sr. and Annie Pearl (née Edwards).

Elton lived his life in Austin and graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School class of 1949. He was a long time athlete playing football and basketball for the Maroon. He played amateur softball well into his thirties. In 1951, Elton joined the United States Air Force and served as Technical Sergeant during the Korean War at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada until his honorable discharge in 1954. Elton was a avid golfer playing in local tournaments and spending countless days and hours at the "Muni", Morris Williams, Jimmy Clay, and Bluebonnet courses. After golf and work he could be found at his home away from home The Carousel Lounge on E 52nd St and Cameron Road, which he assisted in opening with dear friend Cecil Myers. He worked with the Austin community at many local businesses over the years including, Austin National Bank, Norman Eaton's Polonaise restaurant, Roy Butler Lincoln Mercury, Steak Island, Sears, and Covert Auto.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Hazel, Becky, Maybel, Thelma, and Nodie, brothers, Lem Jr., Aubrey, Jeff, and Richard. Elton is survived by his loving daughters, Coleen Wilhelm and husband Tim, Kelley Jones and fiancé Terri Williams, and Laura Jones, Brother Buford "Spud" Jones, grandchildren Marcus Torres and Emily, Shelly, and Rachel Wilhelm. Pallbearers will be Terry Rodriguez, Juan Halquin, Wally Calvin, Paul Redder, Marcus Torres, and Terri Williams.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM on Monday, September 15th, and Services on Tuesday, September 16, at 10 AM at Weed-Corley-Fish, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd. The burial will be at 2 PM at Adina Christian Church Cemetery on CR 309 in Lee County. There will be a celebration of his life at The Carousel Lounge Tuesday evening beginning at 6 PM.

Our most gracious thanks to the Telemetry Unit at St. David's Hospital in Round Rock; especially his caring and wonderful nurse Theresa Michie. Thanks also to Hospice Compassus for getting our dad home to spend his final moments with family, friends, and his constant canine companion Jazz.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The First Tee of Austin (www.firstteeaustin.org) or The American Heart Association (www.heart.org).