Jimmie Jones lived a life of love, hard work and service. He passed away on March 31, 2022, in Tempe, Arizona, at the age of 86. Jimmie was born to Charles Jones and Orva Zimmerman Jones on January 5, 1936, near Greensburg, Kansas. While in college he met Joyce Holt in Greensburg and they married on December 27, 1958. The family quickly grew with the addition of four children: son Jeff and daughters Janell, Jill and Joy.
Jim started his service in city government in 1959 after graduating with a degree in civil engineering from the University of Kansas. He served in Wichita, Kan.; Ponca City, Okla.; Kansas City, Mo.; St. Louis Park, Minn.; Denton, Texas; Evanston, Ill.; and Tempe, Ariz. During this time he also earned a Master’s degree in Public Works Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Jim preferred public service over private business because it provided him with more satisfaction, more opportunities and more flexibility. He earned the reputation as an innovative leader. In 1990 he received the Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year award from the American Public Works Association.
Jim was extremely devoted to his family and his church. He will always be remembered for playing a lot of family games, working on puzzles on the dining room table, parties and get-togethers hosted at the house, grilling on the barbeque, dressing up as Santa Claus, his vegetable and rose gardens, his aversion to cell phones, and family road trips. He spent as much time as he could with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was extremely generous with his time: painting, gardening, always volunteering to help out anyone with anything that needed doing.
His loving family includes his wife of 63 years, his four children, 11 grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 9, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Lakeshore Building, 6001 S Lakeshore Drive, Tempe, Arizona. A public viewing is scheduled from 10:00-11:00 am, with the service at 11:00 am. Jim will be interred in Greensburg, Kansas. In lieu of flowers please donate to a charity of your choice in his memory. The family encourages you to visit https://www.bunkerfuneral.com/obituaries/
Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
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