Billy Wayne Jones, 72, a lifelong resident of Orange, TX passed from this life on Tuesday August 7, 2018 after an extended battle with heart disease at St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston, TX

Born on April 23, 1946 Billy was the youngest son of Sybil Louis Sanford Jones and Floyd McCreight Jones. He was an exceptional high school athlete, graduating from Little Cypress in 1964 before attending Blinn Jr College on a baseball scholarship. He proudly volunteered and served in the United States Army as a medic, with honorable discharge in 1968. He was a Gold Star 4-H volunteer leader for 14 years and a dedicated Sunday school teacher at Pinehurst United Pentecostal church for 15 years. He was a union millwright by trade, a member of Local 2484 and retired from Firestone Polymers, Orange in 2008.

Billy celebrated life and passed on his passion for the outdoors with countless hunting and fishing adventures with his children and grandchildren in his beloved Sabine River bottom and abroad. In retirement he polished his golf game but never missed the opportunity to attend a grandchild’s game or activity.

He was preceded in death by his parents, youngest son, Randall Darren Jones, brothers, Jimmy Harold Jones and Floyd David Jones, sister, Jackie Marie Barrientos, and nephews Jimmy Harold “Jimbo” Jones Jr., and Richard Lane “Ricky” Jones.

Billy is survived by his loving wife of 50 years Linda Joyce Frazier Jones of Orange, son Billy Wayne Jones, Jr and wife Marnie, daughter Kimberly Kay Gillis and husband Waylon all of Starks, LA.  Grandchildren Trey ”Bones” Jones, Cole Jones and wife Casey, Orrin Gillis, Kilon Gillis, Lane Gillis, Jacilyn Jones Brady; sisters-in-law, Peggy Jones and Randi Jones; brother-in-law, Tom Barrientos; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Serving as pallbearers will be Collin Jones, Jeff Jones, David “Bear” Barrientos, Trey Jones, Cole Jones, Orrin Gillis and Lane Gillis. Honorary pallbearers are Kilon Gillis and Jacilyn Jones Brady.

Funeral Services will be held at Pinehurst United Pentecostal Church, at 2111 N. 40^th St., Orange, TX, 77630 under the direction of Rev. W.W. Smith and Claybar Funeral home on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Rigmaiden Cemetery in Dequincy, LA at 3:00 p.m.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday, August 13, 2018 at the church.