Max Jones

Max was a descendent of Daniel Boone and the infamous Donnor Party, his birthright was resiliency and creativity - a blessing that he passed along to his children and grandchildren and shared unselfishly with the rest of the world.

At 79, Max passed away peacefully and unexpectantly at home Saturday morning on August 6, 2011. He was born in Galveston, Indiana at the stroke of midnight February 18, 1932 to Carl and Madella Jones. His mother passed away suddenly and his father met his new love years after and Eva quickly became part of his life, shortly after his baby brother Jim was born.

After a successful stint at basketball on the high school team he graduated from Galveston High School. Soon after he enlisted in the United States Army where he served for three years and was awarded an appointment to West Point Military Academy before attending Purdue University. He spent his time in France and Germany and learned to ski with those old school strap ons.

He met his "Michigan Peach" Connie Perry on a fishing trip to Au Train, Michigan and after a whirlwind courtship they married on August 18, 1956. He always knew that she was the girl for him.

Connie and Max moved to Galveston, Indiana but after numerous early morning pig feeding calls discovered farming wasn't for them. They received a business opportunity in South Texas and quickly escaped - they began an exciting career in the music industry just after. In 1957, Max had a vision of bringing the top country artists including: Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Johnny Horton, Brenda Lee and many others to perform in live concerts in the South Texas area which had not been done previously. After much success, he created the first "Louisiana Hayride National Music Tour". He partnered with Tillman Franks, a Country Artist Manager and was fortunate to help introduce Elvis Presley in the beginning of his career.

Max was an original - a cowboy - an incredible father - a loving husband and a compassionate friend. He was a "one of a kind". He will be missed by the Jones Family including his three children; daughter, Pirie Jones Grossman, husband, Jim Grossman; son, Shane Leonard Jones, wife Debbie Jones; and daughter, Amorette Jones. Also included are his grandchildren who he adored including: Hunter Jones, Colten Jones, and Buey and Saba Grossman. Max and Connie made Harlingen, Texas their home for 26 years while Max enjoyed a successful career in Commercial and Residential Development of Real Estate. A multimillion dollar producer in real estate, his interests expanded into Farming and Ranching in Texas, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. They moved to Houston, Texas in 1981 where he continued his successful career in real estate development as well as gas and oil investments.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until eight o'clock in the evening on Friday, the 12th of August, in the Library and Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Saturday, the 13th of August, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, where Mrs. Dodie Osteen and Mr. Daniel Kelly are to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Grand Foyer.

At the conclusion of the reception, the interment service is to follow, via an escorted cortege, at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

All are invited to greet the family during a cocktail reception from half past four o'clock in the afternoon until half past six o'clock in the evening at Pappasito's Cantina, 6445 Richmond Avenue in Houston to celebrate Max's life.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Max's name be directed to St. Joseph Indian School, 1301 N Main Street, Chamberlain, SD, 57325 or Special Olympics Texas, 1300-A Bay Area Boulevard, Suite 228, Houston, TX, 77058