William “Bozo” Jones, Jr.
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William D “Bozo” Jones, Jr., 59, of Columbia peacefully entered his eternal life, at home with his family on April 27, 2010 after a yearlong courageous battle of lung cancer.
His wishes were to be cremated and no funeral services will be held. There will be a celebration of his life at a later date for family and close friends.
He was born Aug 22, 1950 in St Louis, MO; to William D Jones Sr. and Florence Opal Kitchen Jones.
He married, Gayle Fowlkes Jones of Moberly in 1982 and she survives. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Columbia, MO.
He attended grade school at St Bernards in St Louis until moving to Moberly where he attended St Pius X, Moberly High School and Moberly Jr. College (Moberly Area Community College) and was Class President his senior year at MACC. He then transferred to Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (Truman State University) in Kirksville, receiving a BS degree in Psychology. He worked his way through college and the following 10 years at Central Mo Paving Co in Moberly and working his way up to plant foreman. He also owned and operated Bozo’s Turn of the Century in Moberly. After an injury forced him to change career paths, he was employed by Orscheln Industries as Traffic Manager. He later moved with his family to Columbia working for many years as the Fleet Superintendent at Dana Corporation, as a leased employee of T F E Inc, a nationwide management staffing company. During his work with TFE he was awarded the outstanding customer service award, an award given to one employee nationwide. After a corporate downsizing, his departure from TFE brought him to Joe Machens Automotive Group as a parts and returns specialist. His favorite accomplishment through all the years of employment was his love for teaching and supervising young adults, working side by side with them in their work, teaching them to be the best they could be in their career paths and was lovingly referred to as Uncle Bill by many young employees and coworkers. He was proud to teach so many young men a work ethic and seeing their self worth through hard work and dedication from a job well done, not only at their jobs but their home and family life as well. His dedication to help others carried over in the last year in his battle of cancer, pioneering two trial study drugs hoping to help doctors and other patients fight the terminal form of Stage IV disease to prolong their quality and length of their life.
His love for teaching started early in life from his love for baseball. In Moberly, he was a gifted, standout baseball player, a game he played spanning over 5 decades of active baseball and softball leagues. He played college baseball at Kirksville and later was drafted in the minor leagues by the Pirates and traded to the Iowa Cubs in a short minor league career. His passion for the game brought him to the coaching and teacher of the game from little leaguers, young competitive baseball leagues as well as Ban Johnson leagues and enjoyed sharing his love for the game with his two sons who were also the talented baseball players as their teacher. He was an avid Cardinal fan and Mizzou Football season ticket holder for many years.
He is survived by his loving wife and best friend, two sons and their wives; Jeffrey and Suzanne Jones of Chillicothe, Mo. and Michael and Christina Jones of Columbia, Mo. He is survived also by his mother-in-law, Nina Fowlkes of Moberly, brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws Franklin “Butch” Fowlkes (Rhonda Franklin), Tina Herrin (Mason Herrin), Chris White (Cory Weathers) and Curtis “Spike” Fowlkes (Kimberly Sharp) all of Moberly. He has many nieces, nephews and cousins who also survive. He is preceded in death by his parents as well as 2 half brothers Ernest Shackelford and Leo Jones and 1 half sister, Mary Anderson.
Visits: 4
Gayle and family, I am so sorry to read of Bozo’s end of life, but he loved you and his family with no holds barred and lived his life with love and laughter. My heart goes out to you at this time and blessings are sent your way. Love you sweetie. Rachael
Gayle,
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to you and the boys. Bozo is finally free of his earthy physical burdens. Thinking of all of you.
My dearestsincere sympothy goes to you all. I know how special Bill was and will always be remembered. You all arewill always be in my thoughts and prayers!
It’s been many years since I last talked to Bozo, but I remember him as a great friend and person. He certainly touched the lives of everyone he met. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Bozo and I were good friends in high school and junior college. Good bye and rest until we meet again.
Bozo and I were good friends in high school and junior college. Good bye and rest until we meet again.
I went to MJC with Bozo and was always so energetic and upbeat. He had a great sense of humor and many friends. I am so sorry to his family for his early passing.
I grew up with Bozo and were classmates (1968)for a long time, he was a great friend, we will all miss him, please tell the family that my wife Janet (Benner) Brooks and I will miss him and were so sorry for your loss!
Good-by my friend, the world was a better place with you in it. To Gayle and family – We all feel your loss.
Calvin and I send our thoughts and prayers. Bozo was one of a kind and will be sorely missed by everyone whose life he touched. God bless you and your family. Marilee (Lewis) Palmer
Gayle and family,
Bozo will be missed by anyone he ever came in contact with. I was blessed to have known him. May our Lord bless you all.
God Bless
Janie Riley
I am so sorry for your loss. I didn’t know Bozo well, but in the few times I was around him, it was obvious how much he loved you and his family. Reading his obit. brought tears to my eyes. What a man. You have a strong support system with your sons and your wonderful family. I will keep you all in prayer in the days to come. Remember the good times! Beth
Gayle and Family,
Bozo has touched our lives in many ways and he will be sadly missed. The memories will always be with us and make us smile,when we think of all the fun we had. God Bless you and yours.
You will be greatly missed by all you touched in your lifetime.
Gayle – So sorry for your loss. Bozo was one of a kind, a friend to all in our H.S. days and Jr. College Days. He will be missed. God bless you all.
hope the best for all of you. he has not left you he is just waiting in a better place for you
hope the best for all of you. he has not left you he is just waiting in a better place for you
Gayle, we just wanted you to know that we are thinking of you and your family at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I just wanted to express my sympathy to the family.. I know it has been years since we have seen each other, but I have been apart of his and gayles life pretty much my entire life. My parents and Gayles parents were best friends and so I feel so deeply sadend by this news and want Gayle, Jeffrey and Michael to know that I am thinking of them and that they are all in my prayers.. Lots of Love always Debra Forbis “Pollard”
Gayle, just want to tell you and family how sorry we are. I think alot about those whiffle ball games we used to have in Mike Mulholland’s back yard many years ago. Sharon
To Gayle and family, our deepest sympathies, may you be comforted in God’s love. Although it may be difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, looking back in fond memory will help encourage you tomorrow. Thinking of you, Rusty and Debbie
Gayle, may God comfort you and family. Although the pain of his passing will subside with time, those who he encountered will remember his zest for living. Bozo enjoyed life as demonstrated by his energy and spirit. He could always bring a smile to your face.
Gayle:
Nancy and I are very sorry for you and your family’s great loss. Bozo, Benton Goon, Wayne Hansen, and myself all attended college at MJC and transferred to Kirksville together. The four of us lived beside each other in two trailers at Camp Downing Trailer Park in Kirksville, while attending Northeast Missouri State University. The four of us were best friends and had many wild and crazy times. We shared the good and bad together for two years. Benton, Bozo, and I were all Psychology Majors, and took classes under Dr. Gardner B. Walker, PhD. Bozo was a great friend and always the life of any party! He will be missed by the entire Moberly Class of 1968. God bless you and yours.
Ken joins me in sending heartfelt sympathy to Gayle and family for the loss of “Uncle Bill”. He was a wonderful co-worker friend and an all around great person to know. We also got to know Gayle and enjoyed her friendship as well.
In Sympathy, Ken and Marlene Harn
Gayle what a loss of a good friend & a better person. Who can forget that smile & laugh that was distinctly Bozo’s. May God give comfort in this time of need.Gayle please know that you & the rest of your family are in our prayers. Cuz Ronnie Amy & family.
The first time that I met Bill at Dana Corp, there was just something about the way that he smiled that would always make a person feel good. I will never forget that smile. Howard had the pleasure of working with him and enjoyed that time with him. He was a blessing to everybody that had the chance to be around him. He will be forever in our hearts.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Jones family. Bozo will be missed by all that knew him.
Gayle and family, our deepest sympathies. I have known Bozo since High School and always enjoyed talking with him.
Hello Gayle and family. I was very sad to hear of Bill’s passing. Please know that he is well remembered by his TFE friends. Sheri Osburn
Gayle, Brent and I are so sorry for your loss. If there is anything we can ever do for you, let us know. He is in a very good place.