Thomas Jones was happiest when he was making other people happy. His life was filled with the accomplishments of a hundred men, but what people will remember most about him was the smile he wore, and the tune he whistled while living life to the fullest. A Christian man with a true servant’s heart, he devoted himself to helping those that others overlooked or misunderstood. He left an example for all who knew him of how to selflessly and humbly care for their fellow man. Dr. Jones was diagnosed with stomach cancer on January 31, 2011. Even facing the diagnosis of a stage four cancer, he remained positive and continued to work and love those around him. As of two weeks ago, Dr. Jones had started training for yet another marathon, and began making plans for a future free of cancer. However, on October 30, he was shocked to learn that he had developed a brain tumor. Dr. Jones died from complications of that brain tumor on November 8, 2011. He passed peacefully in the presence of his wife.

He was born in Seminole, Oklahoma on November 7, 1943. He grew up in the Midwest City area. He graduated from UCO with a degree in Special Education and began his career as a Special Education Teacher and Baseball Coach. He went on to get his Master’s degree in Counseling from UCO and then a Doctorate in School Psychology from Oklahoma State University. He later became the director of multiple Child Guidance Centers. He went on to become a Professor of Psychology at Oklahoma City Community College, also teaching Psychology at the University of Oklahoma. He always had a private practice working as a Licensed Psychologist throughout his career, first in Bethany and later in NW Oklahoma City. Dr. Jones spent the last five years primarily in private practice at the Putnam North Family Medical Center. Dr. Jones was one of the founders for the local chapter of the Children and Adults with Attention/Hyperactivity Disorders (CHADD). He worked as a school psychologist in Springfield, Oregon. He also served as a consultant to the Putnam City Public Schools Special Education Department. In 1993, Dr. Jones became involved with the Oklahoma City Fire Department and served as the Clinical Director of their CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing) team. He was extremely instrumental during and in the aftermath of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. On that day, and in the ensuing days, he was a stabilizing factor for rescue workers from all agencies. Throughout the last 18 years, Dr. Jones personally saved many firefighters’ lives. He performed many of these services out of compassion and at no cost to the firefighters. The Fire Chaplain described Thomas as a, “Great friend to the OKC Fire Department.” Dr. Jones also founded the OKC Fire Department’s Child Fire Starter Program, focusing on prevention and treatment for children and their families with these issues. Dr. Jones was considered a world-wide expert in CISD. He published in this area, trained others, and spoke on the topic world-wide. He was a long-time member of the Oklahoma City Boat Club and a member of the Lake Hefner Sailing Club. He raced J-24s as a team skipper for several years. Some of his most treasured memories were of sailing in the British Virgin Islands with his wife and friends. Dr. Jones became an avid marathoner after the age of 60, participating in many Oklahoma City Memorial Marathons and in several Chicago Marathons. He also ran the Route 66 marathon in Tulsa. Everyone who knew Dr. Jones considered him a close friend and personal advocate. He was a loving husband who loved and cherished his wife and turned the devotion and romance of great love stories into a reality for her. Although he was a man of multiple pursuits, Thomas’s first and last daily priority was to care for and treasure his wife. He demonstrated genuine love and commitment by standing by her through times of tragedy and rejoicing with her in times of miraculous blessings.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas B. Jones and Orla Lea Jones, and one grandson, Tyler Henry.

He is survived by his wife, Julie Bell, of Oklahoma City. Also survived by his children, Cindy Reich and her husband Rick of Edmond, Mark Jones and his wife Rhonda of Anna, Texas, and Debby Watson and her husband Jim of Edmond; grandchildren, J.T. Reich, Marilyn Jones, Thomas Wesley Jones, Zechariah Jones; a brother, Robert Jack Jones and his wife Sandra Jean of Jones, Oklahoma and their children David and Thomas Jones.

Services are scheduled for 11:00am, Saturday, November 12 at Council Road Baptist Church with graveside services to follow in Resthaven Cemetery.