I. Jones

I. F. Jones died peacefully at his home in Little Rock on October 28, 2007. Mr. Jones was of the Baptist faith and a member of Immanuel Baptist Church.
He was born May 31, 1914 in Dover, Arkansas to Mary M. (Molly) and John Jones. As a young man of eighteen, he and his wife, Louise, moved to Covina, California in search of work After working at various jobs, he was hired as a salesman for Clippinger Chevrolet, where he quickly became the leading salesman, and found that he enjoyed personal fulfillment as well as professional success in the sales field. A competitor offered him the position of sales manager which he accepted, remaining in Covina until 1938. He then returned to Arkansas and entered into insurance sales with American National Life Insurance Co.
The 1940's brought a move to Russellville, Arkansas and a new position with Union Life Insurance as sales manager, until he volunteered to serve in the U. S. Army Air Corps. He was stationed off the coast of Texas on Matagorda Island. He returned to the sales manager position when his service commitment was completed.
Mr. Jones was hired by Southern National Insurance in 1949 as District Manager for Little Rock and brought it to the No. 1 position. He voluntarily took the under-performing district in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and again achieved the No. 1 status for that district. In January 1955, he was hired by Louisiana National Life as Vice-President and Director of Agencies and ended up running the entire company. It was at this time that he decided that he needed to be running his own company. He founded Ozark National Life Insurance Company in 1956 and served as its President from 1957 until his retirement in 1980. He continued to serve as Chairman of the Board until 1993. At the time of his death, Mr. Jones was Chairman Emeritus and a Director of the Company. He will be remembered for his strength and tenacity in business, and his ability to enjoy life when the work was done.
Mr. Jones is survived by Lorene Jones, his wife of 18 years; his son, John Paul Jones and wife, Arlene of Little Rock; his beloved grandchildren, Gregory Paul Jones and Kimberly Suzanne Jones, both of Maumelle; a sister, Bertha Moore of Wichita, Kansas; and step-children, Kimberly Mordecai and Paul Mordecai (Sarah), of Little Rock. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Louise Jones; a son, Charles Leon Jones; two sisters, Ethel Wilson and Irene Sturgis; and three brothers, Clarence, Fay and Calvin Jones.
Visitation will be Tuesday, October 30, 2007 from 6-8 p.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct.(NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.), Little Rock. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at the funeral home, officiated by Rev. Cliff Hutchins. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. at McFadden Cemetery in Dover, Arkansas. Memorials may be made to Hospice Home Care, 1501 N. University, Little Rock, AR 72207.
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200.