Ray F. Jones

FUNERAL SERVICES for Ray will be held on Friday July 29, 2022 at Hill & Son Funeral Home in Appleton City, Missouri at 1:00pm.

A family VISITATION will be also be held on Friday July 29, 2022 at Hill & Son Funeral Home in Appleton City, Missouri from 12:00-1:00pm.

The OFFICIANT will be the Rev. Bob Fenwick

INTERMENT will take place following funeral services at Appleton City Cemetery

MEMORIAL donations may be given to the First Christian Church of Appleton City

Ray F. Jones, son of Milo A. and Cassie A. (Williams) Jones, was born January 17, 1932 in Springfield, Colorado.  He departed this life in Kansas City, Missouri July 25, 2022 at 90 years of age.

Ray attended Wichita State University where he earned a degree in mechanical and aeronautical engineering and was a member of the fraternity Beta Theta Pi.  His education was interrupted when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy for two years during the Korean War.  While there, he earned his wings as a Naval Navigator and was awarded an honorable discharge at the end of his service.  On his return, Ray completed his degree at WSU while married, working full time and having a newborn in the house.

On September 2, 1956 Ray and Helen Marie Rhodes were united in marriage and spent 52 wonderful years together until Helen passed away in 2008.  Shortly after Ray graduated, he was hired by Beech Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas.  His next employment was with Allegheny Ballistic Laboratory in West Virginia where he worked on the design of the Polaris Missile that furthered his specialty as a pressure specialist.  He was finally hired by Boeing where he stayed for the remainder of his employment and had an esteemed career.  Boeing took Ray and his family to New Orleans, Seattle, Huntsville and back to Wichita.  While in New Orleans, Ray worked with the famous artist Blaine Kern on one of his elaborate Mardi Gras floats.  Ray, Helen, Steve and Cheryl participated as Mardi Gras Royalty that year.  The highlight of Ray's career was his work on Apollo 11 and specifically Saturn V and the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV).  This was developed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.  Some say Saturn V is one of humanity's most impressive and important technological achievements.  He finished his career with Boeing in Wichita where he was working on the design of the storage compartments for the U.S. Space Station.

Ray loved his family and took them on many adventures over the years as he was an avid outdoorsman.  His favorite past time was fishing.  He loved his fly fishing trips in Montana most.  He also dearly loved his best friend and bird dog, Boomer. He was also a talented and witty poet.

After Helen's passing in 2008, Ray soon reached out to Georgia E. (Houk) Hazel for companionship, later marrying on August 25, 2012, in Warrensburg, Missouri.  Georgia and Ray enjoyed travelling.  They had visited nephews in Seattle, driven around the Ozarks to see the dogwoods and fall foliage, and attending programs in Branson.  Ray made one additional trip fly fishing in Montana.  He remained active all through his later years enjoying hosting parties and being with friends and never letting age slow him down.   Ray was also proud to be a life member of Clinton VFW Post 1894.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Helen, one brother Dean Jones and a sister Doris Rowe.  Survivors include his wife Georgia of the home; his children, Steven Ray Jones, Cheryl Ann Near (Phil), Shannon Lea Bates (Randy); his grandchildren: Kristin, Austin, Trevor, Tanner, and Reese; and four great-grandchildren.