Douglas Martin “Doug” Jones, 82, passed away December 8, 2023, with his special love, Kathryn Loeffler and dear friend, Vic Cuppetilli by his side. He was born June 10, 1941 to Rufus and June Jones of Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
At one year of age, Doug’s parents moved to Long Beach, California. Doug attended school in Long Beach until age 17 when he moved back to Tahlequah with his father. He graduated from Tahlequah High School. Doug went on to college at Northeastern University for a short period of time before entering the workforce with his dad.
Following his schooling, Doug and his father, Rufus, moved to San Antonio, Texas, where they started a demolition and salvage business. For 3 years, Doug and his father purchased old government buildings and demolished them for salvage. After 3 years of working in San Antonio, Doug moved back to California and worked for General Motors on the assembly line. He always had a passion for working with automobiles. After a time at GM, Doug worked for Standard Oil Company as a roughneck on drilling rigs. Doug soon returned to Texas to pick up his career with his father in the demolition and salvage company. His dad needed his help. After his dad passed away, Doug went on to build his own business, Sunbelt Demolishing Corp., and ran it successfully for the next 40 years. In May 1960, he opened Kelly Salvage, as it was located near Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio. It, too, was quite successful. Doug had a lifelong goal of working as hard as possible so that he could retire early and enjoy life. He accomplished that goal and was able to retire at age 53. Doug then bought ranchland near Bandera and moved to the ranch in 1994 where he raised longhorn cattle. Doug, ever the demolitionists, loved clearing cedar and building roads on the ranch. Doug lived on the ranch until 2015 when he made the decision to sell and move to Kerrville.
Doug served in the U.S. Army National Guard for 6 years. He was active in the San Antonio community while living there. He was a member of the Alamo Executive Club Leadership Group, the Northside Lions Club and notably, Doug was a 3rd Degree Master Mason and a 32nd Scottish Rite Mason. He was an Alzafar Shriner.
In 1992, Doug joined a group of golfers and started playing golf every Thursday on courses scattered throughout the San Antonio, Hill Country and Ruidoso area. The group changed and evolved with more members, but it still exists to this day. His many close friends are from this golfing group. Doug enjoyed various trips with his Bandera friends during his retirement years. When he met Kathryn, they enjoyed traveling and cruising to Europe, the Caribbean and the East Coast. Doug and Kathryn enjoyed their many trips to their home in Ruidoso/AIto, New Mexico until his illness prevented him from going to the higher altitude. His favorite travel memory was cruising in his “cherry” 1987 El Camino with Bella (his cat) as they recreated trips of his youth traveling Route 66 between Oklahoma and California.
Doug is predeceased by his parents, Rufus and June Jones. He is survived by his partner in life and true love, Kathryn Loeffler; son, Darrin Jones of Wichita, Kansas; his daughter, June Blakely of Wichita, Kansas; and his 5 grandchildren.
Doug is also survived by Kathryn’s children, Lance Loeffler (Ashley), Cullen Loeffler (Jardin), Lauren Powers (Courtney); and Kathryn’s 8 grandchildren. Doug would insist on including in his list of survivors, his beloved cats, Bella and Toby. He is also survived by many dear friends from over the years.
The last few months of life were helped made easier by New Century Hospice. They took great care of all Doug and Kathryn’s needs.
His final wishes included cremation and that all would celebrate his life with a good Margarita!
Condolences may be sent at www.grimesfuneralchapels. com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville.
