James Jones

James Frederick Jones, known to us as “Jim”, age 67, went to be with our Lord in Heaven on  

Friday, October 8, 2021; after a long struggle with Lung transplant rejection complications.  In his time of passing, he was in his home, surrounded by his wife, Angi, his daughter Jillian, family and friends in Green Cove Springs, Florida.  He was surrounded with Love and peace to make his last trail ride home. 

Jim was born on Friday, March 12, 1954 to William “Bud” Frederick Jones and Donna Lee Jones in Parkersburg, West Virginia.  At the young age of 8 years, his father and older sister, Karen, passed away tragically in a drowning accident, leaving only his mother and him behind.  For a while he was raised by his father’s brother, Uncle Harry and wife, Aunt Francis Jones, until a time of grief had passed.   Jim, at a young age, grew up hard and fast; working and hunting, helping to provide for him and his mother.  In later years, she re-married and gave birth to his younger half brother, Bob.  

Jim began working in the Union as a youngster after his first job at Kroger Grocery.  Later, at the age of 20, he began his career at Union Carbide in Marietta, OH, which later became Elkem Metals.  At the age of 22 he was promoted into the apprenticeship program, graduating four years later as a Journeyman Steamfitter Welder.  Jim married his first wife, Candy in 1974. They were married for 15 years.   Their daughter Jillian Renay was born in 1978.  After 12 years of working at Elkem Metals in the freezing cold winters of West Virginia & Ohio, he made a change and brought his family to Florida.  Once in Florida, Jim found a job as a Project manager for a Mechanical Contractor company in Orange Park, running and overseeing projects in many locations here in Florida as well as in other states.  In 1994, Jim married his second wife, Donna, of almost 23 years until her passing. After the owner of the company Jim was working for had passed on, Jim went back to work as a welder for Local Union 1098, Aerospace and Machinist Union, at the Mine, in Starke, Florida.  During this time working for the Mine, being Union brought many challenges.  Workers were presented with many unsafe working conditions.  With many other Union brothers at his side, they went on strike to fight for safe working conditions and a better work environment.  This battle took many years, but they stuck it out and won this battle against the Mine, setting forth an impact to better the workers and safer conditions in the field.   During this strike, Jim still had to make a living.  He found Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 234 Union in Jacksonville, Florida where he transferred his membership from West Virginia Local into Local Union 234 in 2001.  

Throughout Jim’s career as a Steamfitter Welder, he made many friends working here locally and travelling throughout the country working for different sister pipefitter unions.  Jim built a great reputation as a great welder, always being asked to come back on jobs for companies he worked for.  In addition to being a great welder, he was a great Union brother with great humor and wit; making any job fun.  Jim left an impact on his brothers and sisters of the trade, by sharing his knowledge, his skills, and teaching the ropes of politics of travelling in other jurisdictions.  Not only did Jim share his knowledge, but he was known for standing up for what was right and treating the men with dignity and respect, while keeping safe and good working conditions. He was never shy to dragging a job if he or other men weren’t treated fairly and couldn’t help make conditions better; off to the next job he went.  Jim had a good heart that looked after his brothers and friends, even though he presented that of a hard man. 

Jim was a man who was honest and tough.  A handshake and his word meant everything.  You knew where he stood on his opinions and thoughts, there was never any question.  He was straight forward and strong in his believes.  If ever there were disagreements, there wasn’t any question about that either. He had an amazing ability to still remain friends, even though there were differences of opinion.  On the flip side, if you weren’t a good person or didn’t treat people right, he’d let you know it too.  He was old fashion in that way, never afraid of a fight, argument or debate; making sure he protected those he loved, and friends he cherished.  Jim would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it and help you any way he could. 

Outside of work, Jim loved to hunt, fish, and live the country way of life.  Jim was tough, all while having a heart of gold. He loved his family, especially his grandkids, taking them fishing or hunting, or riding horses.  He loved teaching them, knowing the lessons learned from a grandfather was everlasting, useful, and would always create wonderful memories.  Jim was a true Cowboy, he loved horses and the ranchers’ way of life.  He raised beef cattle as well as raised, trained and sold many high bred race horses and arena horses on his ranch in Green Cove Springs.  He enjoyed Steer roping and participating in the local Rodeo competitions.  Many times raising cattle was a shared experience with his good friends and neighbors, an Ex-Sherriff of Clay County, Jennings Murrhee, and Judge William Wilkes.  They had many good times together, even helping and participating in all the local political events.  He was also a member of the Clay County horse patrol during that time, helping to find people lost in the woods.  You could say Jim was a true “John Wayne” of our time.  

Jim was also a 32* Master Mason member, giving back to the community whenever he could.  

Jim met the love of his life through the Pipefitters Union Local 234, as she is also a member.  They were friends for many years until God’s hands brought them together in 2017 when he was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Lung disease needing a Lung transplant.  Jim and Angi were married the day of his Lung transplant on October 28, 2017.  Though they were only married for 4 years, they were best friends since 2003. Though their time together was short, they were never without each other. They worked together, hunted together, fished together, shopped together, laughed together and shared with their friends.  Their love was like no other.  

Jim left a special impact on all our lives, not only in his words and actions, but in the friendship he gave us all.  Jim leaves behind his wife, Angi Marie Jones, his daughter, Jillian Renay Stidham, his son-in-law, Bryan Stidham, his 2 grandsons, Branden Stidham, 21 and Dillon Stidham, 18 and his lovely granddaughter, Trista Stidham, 12.  

Though he is gone from our presence, he is not gone from our hearts and memories.  He has taken his last ride into the heavens where he can watch over us as the protector he always was.   

We love you Jim, Always and Forever! 

May the road rise up to meet you. 

May the wind be always at your back.   

May the warm sun shine on your face.  

May the horse you ride carry you on.   

Until we meet again, May God keep you on his trails.