C. Gary Jones, 64, born in Monroe, La., raised in Magee, Miss., and Rocky Creek, Miss., and a resident of Fairhope, died Saturday, March 24, 2012 in Birmingham.
Mr. Jones was an active member of First Baptist Church of Fairhope where he was a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher. Gary received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Mississippi State. After graduation, he went on to work as a Chemical Engineer for Chevron. In 1980, Gary began his 25 year career working as an executive in North America, Great Britain, and Southeast Asia for Total Petroleum Oil Co., based in Paris, France.
He was an avid golfer and member of Rock Creek Golf Club. He enjoyed sharing time with his grandchildren swimming, go-carting, doing yard work, golfing, and building a good work ethic. He rebuilt cars and raced in the Baja 1000 in Mexico for over 20 years.
His love for racing included off-road, Indy, Nascar, and Formula One Racing.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Steven and Essie Booth; parents, Charles and Laverne Booth Jones; brother, Robert Kent Jones; sister, Charlene Jones Carrington. Gary is survived by his wife of 44 years, Patsy Easterling Jones, Fairhope; three children, Renee Jones (Andy) Webb, Flower Mound, Texas, Derek (Pamela Davis) Jones, Frisco, Texas, Deborah Jones (Dave) Clawson of Fayetteville, Ark; three sisters, Lillie Jones (Howard) Batte, Mt. Olive, Miss., Shirley Jones (Carlton) Edmondson, Cleveland, Miss., Barbara Jones (Talley) Neely, Florence, Miss.; two brothers, Steve (Charlene) Jones, Richland, Miss., Cliff (Mary Ann) Jones,Magee, Miss.; eight grandchildren, Garrett, Ryan, Brandon, Cameron, Jared, Amanda, T.J., Max; and numerous other loving relatives and friends. Funeral services were March 29 at First Baptist Church of Fairhope. Interment was at Rocky Creek Cemetery, near Lucedale, Miss.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Gary Jones IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) Research Endowment Fund at Wells Fargo Bank.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes, Fairhope.
