Obituary of Leo Neil Jones
Leo Neil Jones, born July 3, 1954, died peacefully at home on Saturday, July 1, 2023. His wife, Phyllis, and his son, Jeffrey, were at his side.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Robert M. Jones, and Carol A. Jones of Wisconsin. He is survived by four siblings, Kristin Jones of Minnesota, Robert Jones of Wisconsin, Helen Carol of North Carolina, and Margaret Lambalot (Ron) of Ohio, and ten nieces and nephews.
Being an “Army brat”, Leo lived in many different locales, including France, his birthplace. He soon developed a manner of blending in by being the “class clown”. His father’s Army career took the family to Hawaii, where Leo subsequently received his undergraduate degree at the University of Hawaii in Drama and Theatre, in 1977. When Leo returned stateside, he pursued an acting career, doing summer stock in Illinois and auditioning throughout the Chicago theater scene.
In Chicago, Leo met his future bride, Phyllis, while supplementing his acting jobs with temporary work in accounting. He quickly developed a liking for the accounting discipline and never looked back to acting. Leo completed a Master of Management degree as a graduate of Northwestern University, J. Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1987. He also obtained his CPA from the University of Illinois (Chicago) in 1990. Leo and Phyllis settled in the Chicago suburb of Wheaton. His proudest moment came in 1995 with the birth of his adopted son, Jeffrey. Leo was active with Jeffrey in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and took on more leadership roles in the Troop. Leo was also a devoted Cantor and choir member at St. Daniel the Prophet Catholic Church.
From 1981, Leo was employed by FMC Corporation and subsequently, FMC Technologies. In 2008, he transferred to the Houston Corporate office and continued there after a 2017 merger when the company became TechnipFMC. In 2018, after many years of dedicated service to the Corporate Chicago office and then Corporate Houston, Leo retired.
From a young age, Leo began cooking beside his mother. As an adult, he developed his own twist on recipes and became not only the designated cook for his family but also for their dinner parties. He was particularly fond of sharing his culinary talents at larger family gatherings. Leo was also an avid sports fan, especially of the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Cubs, and the Green Bay Packers. Leo and Phyllis both loved movies and that continued with the newfound opportunity to stream both old and new movies.
Leo loved sharing his talents. He was witty, generous, and fair to everyone. It seemed that Leo shrugged off the occasional disappointment. With his son, Leo instilled important life lessons and challenged Jeffrey to use critical thinking skills and make his own decisions. Leo was a big man with a big heart, and he shared his heart effortlessly with his family and friends.
One of Leo’s greatest joys was singing. And he was grateful to find in Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church the opportunity to share his talent as a choir member and Cantor. He was welcomed with open arms and soon became known for his powerful and beautiful voice. He sang at Sunday Masses, as well as the choir’s Christmas program, the Easter Triduum, and its Sunrise Service. His fellow choir members and parishioners alike counted on him and appreciated his talent.
Leo’s loss will be forever felt but shaped by the loving memories left behind.
Visitation with the family will be held from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm on Monday, July 31, 2023, at Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 26777 Glen Lock Dr., The Woodlands, Texas.
Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., with a reception in Domec Hall following the service at Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 26777 Glen Lock Dr., The Woodlands, Texas.
There are two Live Stream links to choose from.
https://www.youtube.com/ssjwoodlands
https://www.facebook.com/ssjwoodlands/
You may also view the funeral any time after the funeral service.
