Barry Lee Jones

Funeral services for Barry Lee Jones, 71 of Tyler will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at Stewart Family Funeral Home, with Dr. Doug Baker and Dr. David Nichols officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Red Bayou Cemetery, New Boston, Texas. Mr. Jones passed away Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at his home in Tyler following an unexpected illness. Mr. Jones was born on January 2, 1952 in Texarkana, Arkansas, to Leroy and Ozella Jones. He grew up in New Boston, graduated from high school there, and then graduated in 1973 from East Texas State University in Commerce, now Texas A & M at Commerce, with a Bachelor Degree. After graduation, Barry first went to work at Texas Employers Insurance in Tyler then later transferred to Clute, Texas, as a claims adjuster. It was in Clute that he met and then married Kay in 1978. The Jones moved to Houston in 1980 with Barry entering insurance sales. In 1982, Barry and Kay moved to Tyler where he became employed by Hibbs Hallmark Insurance and remained with their conglomerate companies until he ultimately retired in 2018 as President of Heartland Insurance. Mr. Jones was actively involved in numerous church, civic, health care, and philanthropic organizations including Marvin Methodist Church where he served in numerous leadership roles. He was an active member of the Sunrise Rotary Club, Tejas Mission of Tyler, and Past President of Bethesda Health Clinics where he was instrumental in organizing Bethesda’s Hangers of Hope. In 2001, he made his first mission trip to Belize with Dr. David Nichols and continued twice a year thereafter making in excess of 50 mission trips. During these many trips, he fell in love with the people of Belize seeing their dire need for pre-school and high school vocational training. He and Kay monetarily funded the Barry Lee Jones Pre-School and the Corazon Creek Technical High School both in Belize. Barry was an avid fly fisherman having fished the premiere streams throughout the world; being especially fond of Alaska and Argentina. He and Kay, for the past several years, have split their time between Tyler and their river home on the Little Red River, near Heber Springs, Arkansas. Barry was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Debbie Olsen. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Kay Jones, son, Derek Jones and wife, Sarah, daughter, Lindsey Bolton, 3 precious and amazing grandchildren, Corban and Kayleigh Jones, and Jesse Bolton, and numerous nieces and nephews. Honorary Pallbearers include: Jerry Atherton, Bill Costanza, David Graham, John Hardy, Weldon Morgan, Dr. David Nichols, and Tommy Stewart. Memorials if desired may be made to Tejas Mission, 3800 Cloverdale, Tyler, Texas 75701, or Marvin Methodist Church Children’s Department, 300 West Erwin, Tyler, Texas 75702.

Barry Lee Jones

January 2, 1952 - November 22, 2023