Clifford Jones

JERSEYVILLE  -   Captain Clifford Thomas Jones, 67, died peacefully at 3:51 p.m., Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at his residence after a brave fight with lung cancer.He was born in Alton on February 19, 1950, and was the son of Clifford Wade and Mabel Armida (Norman) Jones.Cliff graduated in 1968 from Jersey Community High School, and served his country with the United States Army, and was a proud member of the Honor Guard at Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia.His professional life was always spent around the river.  He began as a young man working at Norman Brothers in Alton, and then began working with Argosy Gaming, where he served as Captain of the Alton Belle.   He eventually retired in February 2016 from the State of Illinois at the Brussels Ferry.He was a member of the Tennessee Squire Association as well as IHSMA, and was a quite, honorable man who spent his free time enjoying his family.He married the former Thea McCoy on August 12, 1971 in Alton, and together their lives have been blessed with 46 years, two children and two grandchildren.Surviving are his wife, Thea Jones of Jerseyville; a son, Justin Jones of Wood River; a daughter, Tamara Jones of Jerseyville; two grandchildren, Olivia Diane Jones and Elliott Thomas Walker; a niece, whom he always considered his second daughter, Meredith (Norman) Benjamin of O'Fallon, Mo.; a brother and sister in law, Chris and Harriet Herring of Clearwater, Fl.; three sisters and brothers in law, Barbara and Robert Smith of Decatur, Vickie and Walter Wunderlich of West Alton, Mo., and Gloria and RB Fry of Jerseyville; a very special aunt, Betty Norman of Jerseyville.He was also a beloved Cousin, Uncle, Neighbor and Friend to many.He was preceded in death by his father, Clifford Jones; his mother, Mabel Herring; a nephew, Michael Piper; and a special uncle, Thomas Norman.Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, November 11, 2017 at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.Private burial will take place at a later date.In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to either the Jersey Community High School Theatre Department or to the Greene County office of BJC Hospice.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home