David Michael Jones was born on June 12, 1939, to Meaders and Catherine Mae Jones in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, and went to be with his Lord at his home in Pauls Valley on July 3, 2022. He and his daughter Catherine Elinor married his beloved wife, the former Wilma Bettes, and her son Clayton on July 8, 1989, and made their home in Pauls Valley, where they are members of the First United Methodist Church.
David graduated from Pauls Valley High School in 1957 and began working as a young rough neck in the oil fields of Oklahoma and New Mexico. In 1960, he volunteered for the draft and joined the Army. He did tours at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, Sandia Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Nevada Atomic Bomb Test Site located near Mercury, Nevada. After the Army, he went to college at East Central University in 1964 and was graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology. Afterwards, he went to the University of Oklahoma and was graduated with a Master of Social Work Degree. After college, he went to work for the Department of Human Services (DHS) in Oklahoma County. Later he served as the County Director of Logan and Hughes Counties DHS offices. He served as the Assistant County Director of Oklahoma County DHS Office. He later was employed in the Medical Services Division of DHS in several supervisor positions until the Medicaid program was transferred to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) again serving in several supervisor positions until he retired from OHCA as its Assistant Director in 1999.
David enjoyed life and was a hard worker. He made a business of Jones Lawn Care after retirement from OHCA until he was eligible to retire under the Social Security Administration regulations. He was very proud of his home’s yard and kept it neat. As a younger man, he enjoyed driving fast cars, especially European convertibles, and was known to race them. He was an avid scratch golfer, playing every spare moment he could as long as his health allowed him to do. Also, he was an excellent photographer, having won many awards for his photos. He enjoyed boating and over-night camping with family. An avid OU fan, he watched all OU sports and proudly displayed OU paraphernalia on his automobiles and in his yard. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, owning vintage and classic BMWs and touring on his Honda Gold Wing Aspencade Motorcycle, quite often with Wilma as his passenger. He was insistent that nobody ever get on a bike without a helmet and protective clothing. He rode these until his strength gave out to enable him to lift them. At that point, he sold all and bought a small Honda 400.
It was this smaller motorcycle David was riding several years ago when he met his saying, “All motorcyclists will have at least two wrecks on a motorcycle – their last one!” After traveling nearly 300,000 miles on motorcycles, the one time he was just going on a short trip and not wearing a helmet, he had an unavoidable accident which landed him in the hospital for brain surgery, broken bones, and lots of skin abrasions. Though he recovered, that was his last motorcycle ride.
David was a member of Valley Masonic Lodge No. 6 and was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, having served as the Secretary for several years.
David’s greatest joy was his family and friends. He enjoyed visiting with friends, especially his high school class of 1958 group, the Masons and his Spades card playing friends. He was an excellent husband, father, brother, grandfather and uncle. He was predeceased by many friends, his parents, Meaders and Catherine Jones, his brother Robert “Bob” Jones, and his son Clayton Bettes.
He is survived by his loving wife, Wilma Jones of the home; his daughter and her husband, Catherine and Tim Hayden, Lexington, KY; his twin grandsons, Benjamin and Samuel Hayden, Lexington, KY; his sister-in-law, Ann Jones, Edmond, OK; his nephew and his wife, Greg and Karen Jones, Oklahoma City, OK; his niece and her husband, Kristin and Marc Shea, Edmond, OK; his sister-in-law and her husband, Linda and Don Yarbrough of Oklahoma City; his sister-in-law and her husband, Patty and Tommy McKee, Norman, OK; and many nieces and nephews, all of whom will miss him.
Funeral services to celebrate the life of David M. Jones will be held Saturday, July 9, 2022, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Pauls Valley, OK, with Pastor Angela Fleming officiating. Condolences for the family may be posted at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com. David’s family requests that in lieu of flowers contributions may be made to your favorite charity.
