Charles "Charlie" & Shirley Jones

Charles Chester "Charlie" Jones, 71, and Shirley Ann Gentry Jones, 69, of Uvalde, Texas, passed away together on November 30, 2025, in a house fire at their home. A joint memorial service celebrating their lives will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary in Uvalde.

Charlie was born in Uvalde, Texas on December 13, 1953, and Shirley was born in Rocksprings, Texas on August 16, 1956. They were united in marriage on August 26, 1978, in Rocksprings, beginning a partnership that would span over 46 years.

Charlie retired after years of dedicated service working for the state, but retirement only brought him back to what he loved most—working on horseback for Ross Fling on Hurd Ranch. A true cowboy at heart, Charlie grew up outdoors with a deep love for the river and the land that shaped him.

Shirley stepped away from veterinary medicine to raise her children when they were young but maintained her veterinary technician license and faithfully assisted Dr. Herndon for years with the Uvalde County rabies drive. Even after leaving veterinary medicine, she stayed in the business of taking care of people however she was needed. A spitfire with an infectious spirit, Shirley loved her faith and had a true gift for making people laugh.

Together, Charlie and Shirley were good, hardworking people who loved their community and could always be depended on. They were known for their love of dancing and will be dearly missed spinning around the dance floor at local functions. There aren’t enough words to adequately honor their lives or the lives they touched while they were here on this earthly plane. More than just dependable, they were genuine characters that loved their friends like family and were diligent servants to their faith. Their memory will live on in the stories their friends and loved one’s share, please continue to share those stories.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents Harmon & Rhoda Jones. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Stanley and Ann Gentry, and her brother Joseph Gentry. They are survived by their children, Leslie Jones and Chief Petty Officer William Jones, US Navy; daughter-in-law, Melvina Jones; and three cherished grandchildren, Noah, Hazel, and Holly Jones. Charlie is also survived by his siblings, Kathy Walker, Mike Jones, and Robert Jones. Shirley is survived by her sister, Lola Gentry.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department. Flowers may be sent to Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary.