Raymond I. Jones "Buck" Obituary (1932 - 2015)

On Monday July 13, 2015 Raymond I. Jones quietly transitioned from this life to eternal life at the St. John's Riverside Hospital, Yonkers, New York. Raymond "Buck" Jones was born January 14, 1932 in Yonkers, New York to the late Pattie Lue Bell Jones and Jancy Jones. He was raised in a loving Christian home, nurtured by his parents along with his three siblings Clarence, Shirley and Margaret. Raymond was a product of the Yonkers School System, graduating in 1951 from Yonkers High School. Upon graduating from high school, he joined the Air Force where he served four years, much of it in Korea. Two years after being honorably discharged from the service, Ray joined the love of his life Clara Mae Smith in matrimony on March 23, 1957. Out of this union they were blessed with two offspring Raymonda and David. In 1973, Ray pursued what would become his life's passion as a Mortician, in Mortuary Services, graduating from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Services; in 1975 he earned his Funeral Director's License. Since that time Ray has served bereaved families with dignity, compassion and professionalism for forty years at Brooks Memorial, Unity, McCalls, Primm, Lee Wood, Camelot, Lee's, and Andre F. Baker Funeral Services. He served as President of the Empire Funeral Directors Association and the Greater New York Funeral Directors Association. Ray spent many afternoons and evenings playing softball at Glen Park in Yonkers. He was a life member of the James H. Farrell Lodge #34 P.H.A. and a member of the Samuel H. Dow Post Veterans of Foreign Wars. For many years Ray was a member of Messiah Baptist Church Yonkers, New York. In May 2003, Ray joined Grace Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson. Ray was a faithful member, who was active in the Men's Ministry. Ray was predeceased by his loving parents, Pattie Lue and Jancy Jones and his sister Margaret E. Jones; he leaves to cherish his memories his devoted wife Clara Mae Jones, beloved children Raymonda L. Jones and David C, Jones, of Yonkers, NY, grandchildren Revonn A, Jones, Rashida L. Jones, great-grand, Denim R. Jones, brother Clarence A. Jones, Jonesboro, GA sister Shirley O. Bell (Corky), Lancaster, CA, a host of relatives, friends, colleagues and his Grace Baptist Church family.