Gary Ray Jones passed away on July 29, 2014 at his home in Denton, Texas.

Gary was born January 16, 1953 in Waco, Texas to Billy Ray Jones and Dorothy Terry Jones. He was raised on a ranch near Bartonville, Texas on Hilltop Road. He graduated from Denton High School in 1971 and attended UNT for three years. In 1974, he married Rebecca Webb and together they transferred to Texas A&M University. While at Texas A&M he worked as a volunteer fireman and photographer. He also umpired for city intramural baseball games. Gary graduated in 1976 from Texas A&M with a degree in Recreation and Parks. He worked for the Corps of Engineers at Stillhouse Hollow Lake in Central Texas and then worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service as an outdoor recreation planner and interpretive naturalist in Missouri and then in upstate New York. In 1980, Gary returned to Denton to join his dad in business. His careers were varied and challenging. He attained a certified nursing home administrator license and oversaw two developmental centers for mentally disabled adults. He owned and operated three restaurants in Denton, Lewisville, and Farmers Branch. He operated a successful insurance agency for over 10 years. At the age of 40, he attended Texas Wesleyan School of Law. He graduated and passed the Texas State Bar in 1995. Gary's many interests included music, history, photography, movies, hiking, reading, and travel. He also was a lifelong supporter of wildlife conservation and preservation.

He is survived by his three sons, William David Jones, Samuel Webb Jones and Benjamin Roy Jones, daughter-in-law Grace Steinel Jones; mother Dorothy T. Jones; brother, Greg Jones; sister-in-law, Bridget Bem; nephew, Gerald Jones; and former wife, Rebecca W. Jones.

Memorial service will be Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at DeBerry Funeral Directors on University Drive in Denton, Texas.