May 16, 89,

Dalton Ray Jones, life long resident of the Oak Ridge Community in northern Duplin County, passed away early Saturday morning, May 16, 2020 at his home. He was 89 years of age.

A service to remember him and his life will be held privately by the family on Monday in the Jones Family Cemetery. Officiating will be Minister Coy Brock. Flowers are welcome; however, memorial donations are suggested to be made to The Outlaw Foundation, PO Box 189, Newton Grove, NC 28366.

Raised on a farm, his early years of employment were, of course, farming, and serving as a television repairman. In 1969, he joined the Duplin County Sheriff’s Department. First, he was a dispatcher, then a road deputy. He was promoted to investigations as a detective, and was chief detective when he retired. Even after retirement, he remained on staff on a part-time basis for several more years.

Mr. Jones was a life long member of Jones Memorial Church and had been a church deacon in earlier years.

Surviving him are his wife of 73 years, Evelyn Beasley Jones, known as “Mimi” to her family; a daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn J. and Raymond Cochran of Four Oaks; a son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Connie M. Jones of Mount Olive; a brother and sister-in-law, Kirby and Mary Jane Jones of Mount Olive; grandchildren, Cheri Gray and husband, Scott, Greg Koch (husband of deceased granddaughter, Laurie “Jaye” J. Koch), D. L. Jones and wife, Tracie, Hollie J. Martin and husband, Brandon, and Jonas Jones; 11 great-grandchildren, Kristen J. Hamm and husband, Ben, Kayla Koch, Rayanna Koch, Hunter Jones, Danny Grace Jones, Logan Jones, Kasey Jones, Hannah Martin, Meghan Martin, Branson Martin, and Aleisha Gray; two great-great-grandchildren, Grayson Hamm and Connor Hamm; a brother-in-law, Robert Beasley of Seven Springs; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his granddaughter, Jaye, he was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Elbert Jones and Mamie Lane Jones; and a brother, Edwin Jones.

The Jones family wishes to acknowledge and thank the following caregivers for their diligent devotion and support, Betty Jo Hobbs, Leigh Ann Underhill, Patricia Miller, Lexie Miller, Felicia Austin, and Janet Hamm. They also express deep appreciation to Community Health and Hospice, especially Julie Lee, for superb assitance and gracious understanding.

For those wishing to do so, a register book may be signed at the funeral home during the day on Sunday, May 17, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

A Tyndall Service.