Leland J.W. Jones Jr.

Asheville - Leland James Wallace Jones, Jr., 80, The Ole TARHEEL or FUZZY as he was affectionately called went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 30, 2005. He died peacefully and gracefully after a period of declining health. He was born in Bainbridge , N.Y. on March 22, 1925 to the late Leland Jones, Sr. and Gertrude F. Jones and was also preceded in death by his two sons, Barton Alan Jones and Bryon Scot Jones; baby brother, Wallace Jones and sisters, Marion Wallin and Ruth Hensley. During WW II Mr. Jones proudly served in the US Navy stationed at Vero Beach, Florida where he was an airplane mechanic.Following the service he attended the University of Richmond. Leland lived most of his life in Buncombe County, most particularly in East Asheville. He was a charter member of the Buncombe County Resue Squad, a member of Oteen Baptist Church and attended Swannanoa Valley Independent Missionary Baptist Church. He was self-employed as a miscellaneous general contractor for over 50 years and owned and operated Triangle Tree & Lawn Service. Western North Carolina boasts hundreds of examples of his expert craftsmanship in gardens and rock work. Lelands claim to fame was the construction of a state of the art dairy barn that was built in Polk County and the rockwork and landscaping at the Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee. After retirement, pictures that he had taken over the course of his travels became a computer photography hobby where he published and preserved nature and scenery for others to enjoy. For 20 years he raised monies and was host for numerous charities throughout the southeast. Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Nora Lee Mashburn Jones; daughter, Vivian Vickie Jones Gaddy and son, Bradley Gene Jones and wife, Susan. He was a very proud granddaddy of grandchildren, Lindsey Jones, Chris Mundy, Chelsey Gaddy, James Scot Gaddy, Nathanael Jones, Cheryl Buchanan and Daniel Buchanan; five great grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Benjamin Ben Jones, Blanche Tennent, Patty Waldrop, Grace Tennent and Robert Bob Jones; numerous SPECIAL nieces and nephews (who loved his magic tricks, jokes and artwork on napkins). Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday in the Chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home with the Rev. Lewis O. Bartlett officiating. Burial will be in Sky View Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home and at other times at the residence.