Richard (Dick) Wayne Jones, 67, of Beaumont died February 4, 2008 at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth. He was born September 23, 1940 in Beaumont, son of Robert Ernest Jones, Sr. and Kathryn Lee (Ellis) Jones.
Richard was a native of Beaumont and attended French High School, 1958; Texas Christian University, BS 1962; University of Alabama, MA, 1964; and University of Arkansas, PHD 1975. He was a Certified Public Accountant and retired professor from Lamar University.
Richard was a member of Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Fraternity and Kappa Kappa Psi band fraternity during undergraduate years. He was first chair (tuba) of the TCU marching band - “The Window of TCU”. His PHD Dissertation was “An Examination of the Capital Formation Prospects of Penn Central Transportation Company” and provided an outlet for his love of railroads. He worked as a CPA for Arthur Anderson Accounting firm and was a CPA for Haliburton. He taught at Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY and Austin Peay State College, Clarksville, TN.
He served in Korea during the Vietnam era, as a member of the finance corps and had top secret clearance while writing pay-roll for the army.
While at Lamar, Richard served as editor of the Proceedings of the Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Accounting Association. He was Regional Vice President of the Southwest American Accounting Association. He also served on the admission policy committee of the Graduate Council and University Research Council, as well as the Accounting Accreditation Committee, University Library Committee, and other committees for the university. He was a published professor, with articles in the Management Accounting (a major Accounting Journal); the Mid South Business Journal, ICC Practitioners Journal, The Texas Bar Journal, CPA 80 journal; The Ohio CPA journal, Mergers and Acquisitions Journal, the Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Finance, Southern Law Journal, and CPA Internet Connection. He presented many papers at professional conferences. He serviced as Department Chair of Accounting and Business Law, Graduate Faculty, faculty advisor for Beta Alpha Psi (accounting honors fraternity and sponsor for the LU Accounting Society. He was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Beta Alpha Psi, AICPA, American Accounting Association, Texas Society of Public Accounting, Trustee of Lamar Accounting Department Excellence Fund and a member of the Curriculum Committee. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 2005.
Member of the Questers Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church, Beaumont, Texas.
He was a past treasurer of the Jefferson Theater Preservation Society and of the Southeast Texas Chapter of the American Theater Organ Preservation Society.
Survivors include his wife, Bettye M. Jones; stepson, Milton Cooke and wife Julie of Canadian, TX; sister, Mary Jones Burger and husband Sam of Delray Beach, FL; brother, Randy Jones and wife Cherry of Vidor; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Jones of Fannett; grandchildren, Marceille, Cody, and Caden Cooke of Canadian; and several nieces and nephews.
His parents, Robert Ernest Jones, Sr. and Kathryn Lee Jones; sister, Margaret Jones; and brother, Robert E. Jones, Jr. preceded Richard in death.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 7, 2008 at First United Methodist Church, Beaumont with Dr. Frank Alegria and Reverend Eldon Reed, officiating. A gathering of family and friends will be 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont.
Pallbearers are to be Milton Cooke, David Jones, Dr. Jim True, Jack Seeley, Joel Allen, and Dr. Larry Spradley. Members of the Questers Sunday School class have been named honorary pallbearers.
Family requests no floral arrangements. Donations may be sent to the organ fund, music ministry, or Kairos Soup Kitchen Ministry of First United Methodist Church, 701 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77701.
