On Monday May 8th, 2023, Coach Darrell Jones, age 88, surrounded by his loving family, dribbled down the court for the last time on this earth and landed his final shot with perfect form. The crowd cheered as he entered Heaven's gates and was greeted by his Heavenly Father with "Well done Coach Jones, my Good and Faithful Servant."

He was born March 15th, 1935, in Snowball, AR. He was proud to be raised in Snowball, where he learned his love of basketball from his dad, Fay Jones. Dad played his home basketball games on a dirt court. His close friend and high school teammate was C.D. Taylor. They both proudly played for the Snowball Eagles and became successful high school coaches and later were each inducted into The Arkansas Coaches Hall of Fame.

He met his wife, Jo Ann, at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout Missouri. It just so happened that her work study job was to clean the basketball gym and that is where she spotted a handsome boy. She was smitten and was soon staying late to watch practice, with her eyes fixed on that boy from Snowball. Dating was against the rules then at C of O, so they just talked, then had a conversation about getting married. Three months from the day they met they were married at the Snowball Baptist Church on Christmas Eve, December 24th, 1957. Jo Ann was his rock and longtime assistant coach in life for the next 65 years.

Soon after Darrell was drafted, he served his country in the United States Army where he was stationed in El Paso, Texas, and New Jersey. He made the All-Army Basketball team as one of the top players in the Army. He also played Semi-Pro baseball in Little Rock.

After discharge he worked in the grocery business but after having children, he had a desire to spend more time with his family. So, he returned to his true passion of coaching basketball. He finished his bachelor's degree at C of O and embarked on a coaching career. In doing so he provided his children with daily access to their dad and provided a life of love and adventures.  In the summer of 1980, after the passing of his father, he returned to Arkansas, to be closer to his mother.  He, along with JoAnn and the kids spent the entire summer "camping", while waiting for a coaching position to open.  During this time, he worked at Pizza Hut in Branson and let a then 9-year-old Marcus tag along and bus tables.  His payment was a free pizza that he would take home, wake the family and eat together at midnight. He would later re-tell this story to his kids and tell them that while they thought they were camping; they were really homeless that summer.

He coached at many small towns throughout Arkansas, with his longest tenure being a successful 12 1/2 year run at Deer School District, where all his kids graduated. He coached all four Jr and Sr High teams, as well as Pee Wee's and baseball. When he drove the bus to away games, there was always a line of Deer fans following the bus, resembling a scene from the movie "Hoosiers."

Coach Jones had a passion and an unmatched work ethic that he applied to the game of basketball. He had a creative basketball mind that was always in full gear. If Coach Jones was near a napkin, he would draw a play on it!!! He also was one of the all-time great story tellers and master of cornball jokes. He was loved and respected by former players and Coaches. Coach Jones will never be forgotten.

The quote below reflects perfectly the legacy he leaves with each of us...

"A Coach will impact more people in one year than most people do in a lifetime" Billy Graham.

In 1979, he walked down the aisle and accepted Jesus as his Savior alongside his daughter, Shannon, at Clarkton Baptist Church. From that moment on, he had a light in his heart and a sparkle in his eyes. He lived out The Fruits of the Spirit in the lives of his family and players.

When he retired from coaching, he was asked in an article what he was going to do. He said, "I am going to cut my grocery bill in half by catching fish on Bull Shoals Lake and spend time with my grandkids."

The only thing in life that he was more passionate about than coaching basketball, was spending time with his wife, kids and grandkids.  They shared many adventures together and created many treasured memories. His grandkids were the light of his retirement life. He never missed an event: T-ball games, chess tournament, Spelling Bee's, football, soccer, beauty pageants, barrell racing, and of course basketball games. Oh yeah and turtle races. Papa drove thousands of miles over the years down the backroads of the Ozarks looking for his grandkids, a turtle. Every turtle race consisted of a trial race to see which one would reach the chalk line first. Each grandkid was always assured they had chosen the fastest turtle.

He loved his wife, kids and grandkids unconditionally and demonstrated this by giving them the greatest commodity he had…his time.

A treasured legacy he leaves is teaching all his grandkids how to fish on the boat he built with his own hands piece by piece, "Papa's boat dock" All of his grandkids caught their first fish with Papa on this boat dock.  A sign he proudly displayed at the dock, "The family that plays together, stays together."

He was incredibly proud of his 4 kids, all of whom attended college and are each successful in their chosen careers and the way they serve others.

To summarize some of his own words, "retirement is not for everyone, I guess that's why I came out of retirement 3 times" and "not many know that they gave my number, "23" to Michael Jordan."

He leaves behind his loving wife of 65 years, Jo Ann Jones, son, Marcus Jones (wife, Angela), daughter Shannon Tennison (husband, David who he loved like a son), and daughter, Kimberly Jones; grandchildren, Keeton Tennison (wife, Lexie), Payton Tennison (fiancée, Jordan), Bryton Tennison, Hunter Weaver, Addie Jones, and Gavin Jones; and great grandson, Tyton Tennison and another great grandson, Keaston Tennison due in August.  He is also survived by his siblings, Bill (Troylene) Jones, Millis (Millie) Jones, Kenny (Loretta) Jones, Royce (Lena) Jones, and Sharlene (Wayne) Hudson; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Nancy Jones, Lynn Jones, and Bob Rea; and a host of nieces and nephews.

He has joined his loved ones that passed before him; his daughter, Tonya Jones; his parents, Fay and Cozette (Drewry) Jones, and siblings, Keith "Red" Jones, Maxcie Jones, and Darlene Rea.

Visitation will be Thursday May 11 from 5 PM to 8 PM at First Baptist Church Harrison.

Funeral will be held Friday, May 12 at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church in Harrison, where he and his wife JoAnn were members.  Pastors Rob Davis and Dale Tennison will officiate.  Burial will follow at Auman Cemetery with Military Honors.

Pallbearers are his son, Marcus Jones, his grandsons, Keeton Tennison, Hunter Weaver, Gavin Jones, his son-in-law, David Tennison, his fellow grandkid wrangler, Dale Tennison, his bonus son-in-law, Jason McAnulty, and his buzzard bar compadre, Clay Self.

Honorary pallbearers are all former players, his National Guard friends, and fraternity of fellow coaches.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Bright Beginnings Books, 505 Yorkshire Cove, Harrison, Arkansas, 72601.  Bright Beginnings Books was founded by his granddaughter, Addie, and has placed over 10,000 books into the hands of needy children.

Arrangements under the direction of Coffman Funeral Home of Harrison.  On-line condolences can be left at www.coffmanfh.com.