James Irvin Jones

JAMES IRVIN JONES, 85, of Leawood, KS departed this life on January 17, 2017, with family at his bedside. He was predeceased by his parents, Elmer and Celeste Jones, his brothers, Stanley and John Jones and his infant son, Jeffrey. He is survived by his loving wife, Andrea Jones, his daughter, Deborah Jones Weiss of Miami, FL, his son, Chris Jones of Prairie Village, KS, and sister, Celeste Fraser of Estes Park, CO.

Jim, or Irv to his family and boyhood friends, was born and raised in Bonne Terre, MO, and graduated from the local high school. He attended college at Sewanee, University of the South, in Sewanee, TN, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Jim went into the Army post-graduation serving at the end of the Korean War in 1953 and eventually was stationed in Japan. He was appointed a sergeant in the spring of 1955 before discharge. Jim then attended Indiana University at Bloomington, IL to complete his MBA. He worked 20 years for the Armstrong Cork Company rising to Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In 1975, he settled in Leawood, KS, and worked for many other companies through the years, excelling in sales which took him to every state in the union except Alaska. He retired in Kansas City at the age of 77.

Jim started playing tennis as a teenager and became passionate about the sport. He met his wife, Andrea, on the tennis court through mutual friends. They were married February 28, 1997, at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Kansas City, KS. They both were longtime members of local racquet clubs here in the KC area and also in Florida where they spent many winters. Jim and Andrea loved playing tennis, spending time with family, and traveling abroad to locations such as Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean.

Jim's faith was very important to him and he was an active member of St. James Anglican Church in KCMO. He was a Korean war combat veteran with service connected disability, a member of the American Legion, and most recently worked as a para in the Blue Valley School District with special needs children.

Jim was an avid Cardinals fan! He faithfully subscribed to MLB and never missed a single Cardinals' game on TV! He was a voracious reader enjoying biographies and books on politics and war. He was a great story teller, had a genuine interest in people and their lives, and loved to talk politics. He was articulate and persuasive and always willing to listen to opposing views and opinions. His smiling face will be missed sorely by all knew him.

There will be a visitation at 9:30 am on Tuesday, January, 24, 2017 at St. James Anglican Church at 8107 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO, 64131, followed by a Requiem Mass at 10:30 am. The burial service will be at Leavenworth National Cemetery at 2:30 pm. Funeral arrangements are being handled by McGilley State Line Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. James Anglican Church.