Billy LeRoy Jones, 4/22/42 - 2/27/23

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Regardless of how you know Billy L. Jones, there are a few indisputable facts we can all agree on.

#1: He had an inherent knack for all things sports and outdoorsmanship. Whether he was boating on Higgins Lake, snowmobiling around northern Michigan, in his hunting blind, tubing down the Muskegon, on the lookout for pheasant, catching walleye in Canada, camping on the shores of Lake Michigan, or getting sunburnt on the golf course, Billy was happiest when outside.


#2: His devotion to his family and their wellbeing was unmatched. Among his most prized memories were of packing up the kids and their Cedar Point-bound camper on the last day of school, showing off his grandkids golfing at Meceola Country Club, traveling the Wild West on a month long family vacation in their truck camper, teaching his grandchildren how to fish — and actually catch something — and the many adventures he had traveling and being a snowbird with the love of his life, Patty.

#3: That man was one helluva dance partner. It didn't matter who, or what type of music, but polka was certainly preferred.


#4 (and perhaps most of all): His laugh — that one that bellowed, deep from his belly — was boundless. The room lit up when he did, and we will all miss his fire and zest for life.

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Born April 22, 1942 at United Memorial Hospital in Greenville, Michigan, Billy's upbringing was an all-American one.

His first job was delivering the Carson City Gazette — he was known all over town as the cute little blonde paperboy — and there wasn't a family in the entire area that didn't have their groceries bagged and loaded by this handsome lad at Brooks Brothers IGA.

Billy couldn't find a sport he was bad at even if he tried. He played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track throughout high school, eventually going on to coach his own kids in the years to come.

Billy graduated from Carson City Crystal High School in 1960, and shortly thereafter served in the U.S. Army for 2 years. While serving, he tied the knot with his partner-for-life, Patricia (Blackmer) Jones on April 20,1963.

The couple were married for nearly 60 years, and were set to celebrate the occasion with friends and family in just a few weeks.

Billy graduated from Ferris State in 1966, and promptly began working at State Farm Insurance while building a life for his family in Big Rapids.

He was blessed with three children — Deb, Todd, and Brad — and he built their dream home, right on the river, in 1989. First came the house, then came that gorgeous wrap-around porch that many of us have communed over throughout the years.

He retired from State Farm in 2000 after working as an automotive claims specialist for 34 years, and used his newfound freetime to hang out with his beloved — and often very curious — grandchildren.

There are a lot of us left here on Earth to grieve Billy — his family, friends, comrades, and breakfast buddies — and there are a lot of ways we can choose to remember him.

We can imagine him in Ferris gear and a ballcap, watching the game at the rink, vodka-tonic-in-hand. We can imagine him camo-d out at "Billy's Whitetail Ranch," soaking up the Florida winter sun, or even snoozing on the couch watching Blue Bloods.

Regardless of how you remember him, though, one thing is sure: When you imagine him, he is smiling.

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Billy L. Jones is deeply missed by his wife, Patricia (Blackmer) Jones; children, Deb (Mark) Newhouse, Todd (Amanda) Jones, Brad (Shelly) Jones; brothers Jerry (Carol) Jones, Mick (LuAnn) Jones; and grandchildren, Jordan (Chris) Goepfrich, Shelby (Mitch) Taplin, Jacob (Hailey) Newhouse, Samantha Jones, and Max Jones.

His great-grandchildren, Jackson and Caylee Goepfrich, have a loving family behind them to keep Great Billy's spirit alive for generations to come.

Billy has joined many loved ones in heaven, including his grandparents, Forest and Ruth (Evans) Troub, Cecil and Lula (McWilliams) Jones; parents, Max and Dorothy (Troub) Jones; and infant brother Jimmy.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.
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In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Big Rapids Junior Hockey Association where he coached "his kids" for many years. Make checks payable to: BRAJHA and mail to:

Ferris Sports Complex
BRAJHA/Billy Jones
C/O Tim Blashill
210 Sports Dr.
Big Rapids, MI 49307

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