I have "worked at" several different jobs during my life: teaching trombone lessons, planting wheat fields, janitor-ing in a church, selling musical instruments, pumping gas, changing oil in a service station, playing in a dance band, car-hopping at a drive-in, un-coupling and braking cars full of wheat at an elevator, wiring houses for electricity, delivering milk to grocery stores, pastoring churches, counseling in church camps... While I have learned something from each role of work that I have attempted, the one that has a special taste to it is the one I am doing now and will continue to do until the day I either die or I am told that I can't handle the role anymore. There is nothing for me that can compare with being a clergyman. The joys are the highest and the pains are the deepest. I covet both characteristics of the work. The Lord speaks profoundly to me through both the joy and the pain.-Montie Jones, Grandfield United Methodist Church

Rev. Montie Dale Jones passed away at the age of 86 on May 14, 2025, in Lawton, Oklahoma. Montie Dale Jones was born on May 20,1938 in Enid, Oklahoma. He was the second son born to Edwin Lewis and Lois Earlene (Newingham) Jones. During his early years his family followed his dad to several different cities working for OG&E. After the family moved back to Enid, they joined Grand Avenue Methodist Church where the entire family became faithful and involved members. Montie attended Enid Public Schools where he pursued his interest in music. He was a member of Harrison Grade School Band, Emerson Junior High School Band, Enid High School Band, Phillips University Orchestra, National Guard 45th Division Band, Charlie Dowd's Dance Band, and was selected for the high school all-state band. Montie delivered papers to help pay for his first trombone. He was president of the Emerson Junior High Band and the Enid High School band. The Korean War was a significant event for the Jones' family. In eighth grade, Montie's dad was deployed to the Korean War with the 45th Oklahoma National Guard. Master Sgt Jones' chief duty was to be the General's driver and to write letters to the families of the casualties of the war. This had a significant effect on Sgt Jones and his sons. Montie graduated from Enid High School in 1956, and his undergraduate work was completed at Southwestern (Methodist) College in Winfield, KS. Montie graduated from Phillips Theological Seminary in Enid in 1966. While in high school Montie met Sylvia McWhirter at St. Luke's Methodist Church where they were later married in1959. Two cherished daughters, Kristie Jones and Kerie Jones, were born from this marriage. Montie adored these two daughters, as they also adored him. One of Montie's favorite activities was the United Methodist Wilderness Camp of which he was one of the "shepherds". He loved working with the group of adults who became great friends as they worked, planned, and spent weeks in the summer with the youth who attended it. Montie served faithfully in several Oklahoma Conference churches including Waukomis, Blackwell, Tuttle, Porum, Warner, Tahlequah, Chelsea Memorial, Chelsea Epworth, Randlett, Grandfield, Nichols Hills, Anadarko First, Holdenville, Cordell, Vinita, and Lawton Heights. He retired in 2004. In 1981 Montie and Galeda Mannschreck met on the church steps of the First Methodist Church of Anadarko, and the rest, as they say, is history. They married on a very windy day, May 17, 2004, on Mt. Scott in the Wichita Mountains near Lawton, OK with Montie's brother, Rev. Phil Jones, officiating. Montie and Galeda co-pastored Cement and Cyril and then Cameron Campus Ministry after retirement. Galeda always said, "Montie was my pastor, mentor, my best friend, colleague, and in 2004, the best surprise of my life, my husband."

Montie is survived by his wife of almost 21 years, Galeda, of the home; his daughters and son-in-law, Kristie Albright (Tarron), Edmond, OK; Kerie Jones, Broken Arrow, OK; his two grandchildren, Ashlee Albright, the family's mini-Montie, Edmond, OK, JT (Lauren) Albright, Edmond, Ok; his two great granddaughters, Bailey Albright and Jacey Albright, Edmond, OK; his brother and sister-in-law, Rev. Phil Jones (Marlene) Lawton; and two nephews, Dr. Phil Jones (Cathleen), Norman, OK, Mark Jones, Dallas TX; his great nephews and niece: Colin Jones, Austin, TX, Logan Jones, Austin, TX; Dr. Ally Jones (Brant), Fairbanks, Alaska, Hayden Jones, Dallas; Bonus sons: Randall Mannschreck (Rebecca) Fort Worth, TX, Brian Mannschreck (Donna), Lee's Summit MO; Bonus Grandchildren: Bradford Mannschreck (Angelica) Colorado Springs, CO, Ryan Mannschreck, Colorado Springs, CO, Drake Mannschreck (Piper) Lee's Summit MO; Bonus Great Granddaughter: Itzel Mannschreck, Lee's Summit, MO. He is also survived by two cousins, Judy Willcox, Plano, TX, Sharon Martin, Colorado Springs, CO.

A celebration of Montie's life will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church Activities Center in Lawton, OK.

Memorial contributions may be made to United Methodist Canyon Camp (Youth Camping), 31600 Camp Road, Hinton, OK 73047.