Ray D. Jones

Ray D. Jones, Jr. of Mission Hills, KS, passed away May 21, 2017. Ray was born in Kansas City, MO on Jan. 5, 1924. He was a graduate of Southwest High School and attended the University of Missouri, where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and the MU football team. Ray married Roberta "Bobbie" Houston on June 9, 1951. They had eight children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray D. and Lillian Jones; his wife, Bobbie Jones; his sons Houston Jones, Casey Jones, and John Clay Jones. He leaves behind his children Kevin (Nancy) Jones, Sarah (Mike) Lytle, Brian Jones, Elizabeth Knops, and Brigit Jones; daughter-in-law Linda Jones; sister Helen Lea; as well as grandchildren Nick (Kate) Jones, Chris Jones (and fiancée Kathryn Orlowski, Caroline Jones, Casey (Maddie) Lytle, Charlie Lytle, Lea Lytle, Ryan Knops; and five great-grandchildren.

Ray served in the Navy during WWII where he was also able to continue his studies with night school at the University of Hawaii. He returned after the war to finish his education at MU and attend MU Law School . . . he was always the first to tell you he graduated "last in his law school class." Ray started his own law practice and was a tenacious attorney even arguing a case in front of the US Supreme Court at the young age of 30. He drifted away from the practice of law starting 14 different businesses, including ADA Sports Badminton & Tennis, where he was still active until the time of his death.

Ray developed lifelong loves during his summers in the small river town of Lupus, MO. Baseball on radio, playing sports, free time to roam the family farm, and always time to read. He was an outstanding athlete who carried with him a love of competition and sports until the end. He was proud to have helped form the Cub Scout baseball program and Johnson County YMCA football league in the early 1960s. The Jones house on Belinder served as the gathering place for seven active children and all their friends. The door was always open, everyone was welcome and the house was never empty. The backyard was the scene of high school graduation parties, weddings, and many family gatherings. As the children grew up and moved away, the gatherings shifted from tennis in the backyard and baseball in the front yard to dinners, wine tastings, cigars and music on the patio with his longtime friends. Later in life the house was lovingly referred to as "Chateau Belinder." Travel was a constant presence in Ray's life and he never missed a chance to see the world. Ray was a member of the former Surf Club in Bal Harbour, FL, the Metropolitan Club in New York City, the Saddle & Sirloin Club in Kansas City, MO, and a lifetime member of Homestead CC in Prairie Village, KS. Ray will be remembered with a cigar in his hand, a history book in his back pocket, talking to whomever was nearby.

Ray has requested cremation with no funeral services. All are welcome to attend a celebration of a life well lived at his sister Helen's house on Tuesday, June 6 from 5 - 7 pm. In lieu of donations, enjoy a nice meal, smoke a cigar, or raise a glass of wine with friends in his honor.

To share a special memory or leave a message of condolence for Mr. Jones' family, please visit the guestbook below above.