Bill R. “Skeet” Jones

Bill R. “Skeet” Jones, age 93, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, after an extended illness. He was born in Hawkins County on Oct. 8, 1928, the youngest of 9 children. His family moved to Hamblen County when he was 4 weeks old. He was preceded in death by his parents Alonzo Tyler Jones and wife Elizabeth Brown Rogers Jones; his sisters Gladys Myers, Inez Moore, Hazel Moore, Cleo Davis and an infant sister; his brothers Fred Thomas Jones, Burkette Rogers Jones and J.P. “Jake” Jones; and his son Steven Douglas Jones. He was also predeceased recently by his best friend of over 50 years Wayne Pigmon. He is survived by his wife of 66 years Jean Wolfe Jones; daughter Kathy (Jones-Terry) Litz and husband John; son Rick Jones and wife Candace; bonus son Scott L. Millar; and longtime friends he considered as family Pat Pigmon and Sonya Pigmon Beene. He is also survived by his special grandchildren Morgan Jones, Christian Jones, Jake Terry and Cassidy Terry Herbst, and many nieces and nephews and their children. 

“Skeet” served in the U.S. Air Force as an E-3 Airman First Class, working stateside on heavy equipment during the Korean Conflict. When he returned home, he farmed, then owned a used car lot before becoming a realtor in partnership with John T. Bible and Randall Johnson, then becoming an auctioneer in 1968. He owned Cherokee Real Estate and Auction Company until his retirement, and he volunteered his services as an auctioneer for many community and civic organizations over the years, including the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Girls Inc., Hamblen Co. 4-H Club, Ducks Unlimited, Wild Turkey Federation, and Hamblen County Republican Women. 

He was a member of Masons Lodge #23 and the Kerbela Shrine for over 60 years; a 50+ year member and past E.R. of Elks Lodge #1667 as well as State Chaplain; an Honorary Trustee of the WSCC Foundation; a 50+ year member and Past President of Morristown Kiwanis Club; and was active in industrial recruitment with the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce for a number of years. He was also active in local and state politics, serving as East TN campaign manager for Governor Winfield Dunn. He was a member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church. 

He loved to sing, he participated in many Kiwanis Kapers skits over the years, and he especially loved young people. He enjoyed fishing, boating, gardening, and spending time with family and friends here in what he considered “God’s Country.” In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the WSCC Foundation, the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, the Shriners Children’s Hospital or All Saints’ Episcopal Church. The family would especially like to thank the nurses and volunteers from Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice who made it possible for him to remain at home. 

The family will receive friends in the East Chapel of Allen Funeral Home from 5pm to 7pm on Thursday, Dec. 2.  Funeral services will follow the visitation at 7pm, with Rev. Mark Holland and Rev. Smokey Oats officiating.  Interment will be held at 11am in Bethesda Cemetery on Friday, Dec. 3. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bill R. “Skeet” Jones, please visit our floral store.