This is a very good friend to our family, He was the dad and grandpa to our family. He would help anyone, and never request anything back. What a wonderful man, person, he was to us, and many, many others.

Obit;
James Earl Jones
Fordland- James Earl Jones, 67, Fordland, died about 4 p.m, Tuesday of injuries suffered in a farming accident.

He was born April 13, 1924 in Webster County to Jim Jones and Maude Henry Jones Bowers and Married Della B. Williams on Oct. 19, 1946, in Ozark. A U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, he was a member of Fordland United Methodist Church and had attended the Missouri Auction School in Kansas City in 1954, He was the owner of Jones Auction Service, a farmer and a bull shipper, renting stock and registered bulls. He was employed by Springfield Regional Stockyards at the time of his death. He had served on the Webster Electric Coop Board for many years.He also was a board member for ASCS and was originator and board member of Cave Springs Southwest Trail Riding Club. He was president of Cave Springs School Reunion. He was a lifetime softball player, three-time past master of Mount Olive Lodge #439, past patron of Eastern Star Bethel Chapel #281 and a member of Scottish Rite of Joplin, and VFW in Marshfield.

Surviving are his wife, Della, of the home; two sons, James Earl Jones, Jr. and his wife Donna, Fordland, and Randall J. Jones, and his wife Darlene, Rogersville; two daughters, Brenda L. Andrews, Springfield, and Reatha Ann Wilkerson and her husband Charles, Fordland; other claimed children include, Vivian Cutbirth, Galena, and John and Valerie Collup, Fordland; a brother; Clarence Jones and his wife Lucille, Marshfield; a sister, Mable Ellison, Rogersville; seven grandchildren; four claimed grandchildren; a host of other claimed children; and serveral nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nove. 2, in Fordland High School Gym with the Rev. W. Thomas Robison officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery, Fordland. Under direction of Preston-Marsh Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the funeral home with masonic services to begin at 7:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fordland United Methodist Church.


Funeral Card; front has in Loving in Memory, on inside it has the twenty-Third Psalm.

In Memory of
James Earl Jone
Born
April 13, 1924
Webster County, Mo
Found Eternal Reward
Tuesday, October 29, 1991
Funeral Services
High School Gyn
Fordland, Missouri
Saturday, November 2, 1991
1:00 p.m.
Officiating
Dr. W. Thomas Robison
Final Resting Place;
Mt. Olive Cemetery
Fordland, Missouri


Pallbearers;
Harvey Wilkerson - Vanton Hathcock
Calvin Orr - Jake McMillian
Dale Kensinger - Rex Allen
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Doug Galloway - Doug Cron
Norman Willis - Norman Cass
David Harmon - John Jones
William Stroud - Ross Loveland
Frank Andreatta - Paul Andreatta
Clifford Wilson
And All Free Masons

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The News-Leader, Thursday, Oct. 31, 1991, Section-B,

Webster County Cattleman's death causes closing of haunted house.

FORDLAND- The annual October haunted house on Earl Jones' farm was something to which are residents looked forward. About 1,200 people from Webster and surrounding counties visited last year.

Some of the money raised from the event was used to help local families having financial trouble because of an illness, fore or other disaster. Jones, a cattleman and auctioneer liked to help people that way.

But the haunted house was closed Wednesday. A day earlier, the farmer had been killed while feeding bulls in a nearby field. Webster County Coroner Edward Blinn said he was trampled to death.

Jim Jones said his father had bulls for as long as he could remember. He rented them to farmers from Buffalo to Galena. He also worked at Springfield Regional Stockyards and operated Jones Auction Service, said Jim Preston, funeral director for Preston Marsh Funeral Home in Rogersville.

But it was his community service and out going personality that made Earl Jones popular, friends said.

"He was always ready to help anybody in need." said Blinn, a close friend who attended the Mt. Olive Masonic Lodge with Jones. "He was a just good ole' boy. Everybody that knew him was a friend."

"He had a way about him to make you feel like part of his family." said Jim Jones, one of four surviving children. "He made you laugh, He made you feel good."

Jones served in the Navy during World War II and was three times the past master of the Mt. Olive Masonic Lodge. "You could count on your hands" the number of meetings his dad missed since becoming a member in 1952.

He was a member of the Marshfield Veterans of Foreign Wars and founded the Cave Springs Southwest Trail Riding Club. The group built a clubhouse on Jones' Webster County KK farm where regular community square dances are held. Son Randy Jones is the club president.

Earl Jones also served on the board of the Webster Electric Cooperative and was a Democratic Party committeeman. He loved slow pitch softball and continued to play until an injury sidelined him two years ago at the age 65, Jim Jones said.

Greene County Resource Management Administrator Jim Bresee said he and Earl Jones were friends for more than 30 years.

"Mr. Jones was a person who was a friend to anyone who needed help." Bresee said "He was one of those individuals you couldn't help but like to be around, and I'm going to miss him dearly."
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Webster County Citizen, Wednesday, October 30, 1991,

Auctioneer, cattleman Jones trampled to death on farm.

Prominent auctioneer and cattleman Earl Jones of rural Fordland died at his farm Tuesday afternoon after being trampled and gored by some of his herd.

Webster County Sheriff Bill John said that the call for assistance came in at 3:45 p.m. after a school bus driver saw Jones being trampled. The driver apparently stopped at the first house to have someone call for help, he said.

John said there were 15 or 20 bulls in the pasture with Jones when he arrived.

"It appears he'd been feeding them," John said, adding that Jones apparently was by himself when the incident occurred.

Jones was pronounced dead at the scene, John said.
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