Jon Claibourne Little

Jon C. Little, 85, of Dripping Springs, Texas peacefully passed into Heaven on the evening of Thursday, November 11th, 2021 with the love of his life, his sweet Caroline, tenderly by his side. They were married for 61 years and were the embodiment of a committed and loving relationship. Together they joined two families and blended them seamlessly together to become one born from that love.

Jon was born at home in Lubbock, Texas on June 21st, 1936. Jon was the second son of Leora and Ragan Little and a younger brother to Don Little. His father was a home builder throughout Texas, farmer and rancher, and a land developer, and his mother was an extraordinary leader who spearheaded the organization of the Castro County Public Library in Dimmit, Texas, and fearlessly supported women of all races as a founding member of the Texas Women’s Republican Party in Dimmit County, and she was the office manager, bookkeeper and accountant for her husband’s many ventures.

Jon was first and foremost a family man. He loved his children and grandchildren and being with them as much as he could. When his family was young they spent many long weekends camping in the camper he built himself, hiking, fishing, swimming, and tubing. Time with family was important and was filled with swimming pools, family dinners, playing games, visiting grandparents, snow skiing, and a lot of laughter. They spent numerous Thanksgiving holidays camping out on the pristine shores of the Sea of Cortez. He and Caroline loved to two-step and often went dancing, and later they even took up square dancing. He enjoyed the many people he met and friends he made while combining his talents as a masterful cook and his joy of socializing by attending and competing in Chili Cook-Offs and live music events all over Texas.

Jon was a hardworking, industrious, entrepreneur from a very early age until his retirement at age 73. He had an interesting and varied career history. He was a farmer and rancher for the first half of his life and the latter thirty years he had his own business installing brick paving in residences (many famous), commercial parks and cities throughout Central Texas. It all began with him working along his father and brother in the home building business when he was just a young boy, and then once his father bought land they all farmed together. In 1966, Jon moved his family to Center, Colorado where he grew potatoes and barley for Coors Brewing Company. From there he moved to Phoenix in 1972 and was a salesman for American Fence Company. A few years later, in 1974, he went back to farming and ranching as a foreman for a large conglomerate corporation, Shoenefelder Corp., which had operations in four states. He managed vast ranches for Round Rock Land and Cattle Co. and Rainbows End Cattle Co. for several years as well in Arizona. He left that work and began his own business, Little Equipment, selling high pressure washers to industrial and commercial businesses far and wide across the country. In 1981 he moved back to Texas to be closer to his parents and family. Here he started yet another business of his own, a brick paving company, Jon Little Paving Co., where he quickly earned the reputation as the best in the state. He retired after 30 years from the paving business and he and the love of his life began traveling all over the U.S in their RV.

He was happiest when helping someone else and when enjoying the simple pleasures in life with his family and friends. He was a sweet, kindhearted man who loved completely, had a zest for life, a quick dry wit, more friends than one could count, and a love for his sweet Caroline and his children that would be hard to surpass.

He is preceded in death by his loving mother, Lillie Leora Davies Little 1913-1998, his father, Edward Ragan Little 1911-2001, and his older brother who died in Honolulu, Hawaii while serving in the Navy, Don Little 1933-1954. He is survived by his loving wife, Caroline Lawson Little, and his five adoring children and their children: Kathy Wagner, her husband Richard Wagner and son Wyatt Wagner; Rick Little, and his wife Dee Little and his children Trisha Robertson, Lacey Hoover, and Rick Little Jr.; Drex Little, and his wife Lori Little and their children Heather Hamby, Kali George, Jeff Little and Jon Little; LaDon Durham and her children Jarod Durham, Randi West, and Cassidy Wendler; and Linda Little Wendlandt and her daughter Morgan Wendlandt, in addition to twenty-one great grandchildren; Bella, Lili, Kendal, Caleb, Xania, Hazen, Marin, Dylan, Clayton, Kinley, Emma, Maddie, Jaxon, Michaela, Tristan, Daniel, Patrick, Isaiah, Noah, Greyer and Maverick.

There is an awfully big hole in our hearts with him gone and we are left with some terrifically big shoes to fill. He was not only a great man, but a great dad, Papa, and friend. Can’t think of a time when he wasn’t there for us and in so many ways he always will be. What would Jon say to us? I know you will be sad, I understand, but then don’t let grief hold your hand. Don’t let your heart hold any tears, we had so many happy years and what is to come doesn’t hold any fears. In time I know you will agree, that now I am everything I was meant to be. So in his honor and his zest for life, make sure to live yours in the present and to its fullest. Be happy, be kind, love completely with your whole heart, do good things, hurt no one, tell the truth, and be the best example of a life well lived.

A celebration of life for Jon will be held Sunday, November 21, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, TX 78749.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com for the Little family.