Tom Jones, of Paxton, Illinois, passed away Thursday, 24 Oct 2024 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois. He was 81.

Thomas Martin Jones was born 25 Jan 1943 in Tuscola, Illinois to William Martin Jones and Isabelle Davis, the younger of identical twin boys. He grew up in Villa Grove, Illinois and graduated from Villa Grove High School in 1961. He married Rebecca Sue Lively on 20 Jun 1971 in Shelbyville, Illinois.

Tom spent his career as a middle school teacher, most recently teaching sixth grade at Paxton-Buckley-Loda Junior High in Paxton, Illinois (1975-2003). He also devoted his life to the ministry, most recently at the Congregational Church in Thawville, Illinois.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers William Jackson Jones and John Davis Jones, his sister-in-law Shirley Anderson Jones, his nephews Jackson Riley Jones and Joseph Martin Jones, and his niece Susan Jones. He is survived by his wife, Becky; his daughter, Sarah Isabelle Jones; in-laws Lois Jones, Chris Lively, Greg (Mina) Mason, Jackie (Jim) Newbanks, Terry Jones; his nieces Ann (Jim) Robson, Jennifer (Scott) Wilson, Molly (Ben) Andreson, Jane (Doug) Pickett, Jill (John) Stevens, Beth (Keith) Creighton, Hannah (Larry) Decker; his nephews Bill Gillespie, John Michael (Keyla) Jones, Phillip (Sara Beth) Jones, Matt (Cathy) Lively, Tim Mason, Jared (Brittany) Lively, Jordan (Mollie) Lively, Judson (Lindsey) Lively, Joel Lively, Ben (Caroline) Lively; and many beloved great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, 29 Oct 2024 at Baier Family Funeral Services in Paxton, Illinois from 10am to 12pm. There will be a brief service at 12pm at the funeral home, followed by a graveside service at Villa Grove Cemetery in Villa Grove, Illinois at 1:30pm. Tom's niece, the Reverend Jennifer Wilson, will provide services.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations be made to a charity of the donor's choice.