J.R. "Jay" Jones, 90, of Denton passed away Sunday, February 17, 2013. He was born August 13, 1922 in Iago, TX to Jesse Rubin and Sally Jones. He served in the Merchant Marines and the U.S. Navy during WW II. He was at Normandy on D-Day. He married Frances Dunbar on September 27, 1947. He was the owner of Jones Ace Hardware in Denton for many years.

Jay and Frances came to Denton in 1963 to put in Denton Center Hardware. He sold the store in 1978 but retirement was not his thing. He went back to work in 1988 with his son, Bobby at Jones Ace Hardware. No matter what job he took on, he did it to the best of his ability, be it as husband, father, brother, friend or hardware man.

Visitation will be Monday, February 18, 2013 from 6 – 8 P.M. at DeBerry Funeral Directors. Funeral service will be Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. in the chapel of DeBerry Funeral Directors with Rev. Lisa Blaylock officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.

He is survived by his wife, Frances Jones of Denton; son, Bobby Jones and wife Kathy of Valley View; daughter, Becky Stumbaugh of Arlington; grandchildren, Ronda, Rita, Rob, Ron, Mark Terry and Chris; great grandchildren Jordan, Kara, Tyler, Dusty, Mia, Wade, Brady, Grayson, Payton, Austin, Michaela, Ronnie; and 2 great great grandchildren, Cayden and Riley.