Mr. John Michael Jones

John Michael Jones was born on January 9, 1962 in Columbus, Ohio. His parents, Dr. Nathan Jones and Joyce Marie Jones raised him with a love of family, sports, cars and food! He had a touch to cook the best steaks, fries and loved to explore a variety of tastes in his “concoctions”.

Mike, as he preferred to be called, loved sports. He was a natural as a left handed Baseball pitcher, and played either running back or wide receiver in football. He also had a brilliant mind, as he could look at a page in a book on cars, or any number of topics, remember it and be done with his assignment. But then he would get in trouble in class because he started bothering other people since he was done and could not stand just sitting still being quiet. In fact, the joke around our house was that his dad had to visit him in school everyday because he did something—like cut the girl’s hair in front of him since it was on his desk. He also love to buy old cars, break them apart and rebuild them. He was our go to guy to repair anything mechanical—cars, garage doors, any appliance—whatever the case may be. Mike also never met a stranger—which helped his sister who was glued to their mom. From the get go, Mike was protective of his baby sis and taught her how to write when he started school, drive a car at 16, basic car mechanics like checking the oil, etc. However, It was quite unique for a left hander to teach a right hander how to write. To this day, his sister turns her paper like a left hander to write freely. Mike’s mom led both he & his sister to accept Christ an early age in Okinawa, Japan. It was there in Japan, that their dad also accepted Christ at the Overseas Christian Serviceman Center led by the Tarkington's and we lived the scripture in Joshua 24:15: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And he did love the Lord and you would hear him talking to anyone about the Lord and his goodness—no matter what external circumstances were crowding in on him.

Once out of high school, Mike joined the Marines and was known for his sharp shooter skills. He completed his degree during the Marines at the University of Virginia returned to Texas and started his career at American Airlines. He was there at American Airlines until 9/11 where he was impacted by the layoffs due to the disruption in the airline industry. But he did not let that deter him for putting all of his efforts into his company—Escape Management. But the greatest joy of his life was the birth of his daughter, Adrian Marie Jones on July 22, 1996 and everyone knew it. She was the light of his life, his center focus and joy. Mike was all engaged in his daughter’s life from her first days in school, to her soccer to getting her degrees in art. He was so proud of Adrian and shouted it from the rooftops.

After a fierce battle with diabetes, the Lord called Mike home on September 2, 2021. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Nathan Jones, Grandparents Samuel W. & Jugertha Brown, John & Curley Jones, Uncles William Devaughn Jones, John Lacy Jones, Aunt Alberta Dalton and cousin Jamie Brown-Liggins.

He leaves to mourn his precious memories his loving daughter Adrian Marie Jones, mother Joyce Marie Jones, sister Nina Dianne Jones, Uncles/Aunts James (Wanda) Brown, Charles (Marcia) Brown, Eleanor Brown, Nebraska Jones, Joseph (Denise) Jones, Theresa Ann Jones, Deloris J. Baskin and Alma (Rev. Gerald) Thomas, cousins Jeff Brown, Jerry (Satina) Brown, Tony Brown, Monica (Ron) Bess, Charles, Jr (Kendra) Brown, Shannon Baskin, and a host more cousins, and friends who we consider just like family.