Olvis Jones

[StarKiller]

Olvis LaVon Jones, 92, passed away Saturday, June 18, 2016 at his home in Cache.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday June 22nd at Indiahoma First Baptist Church with Pastor
Les Banks officiating. Burial will be at Springhill Cemetery south of Cooperton.
Arrangements are under the direction of Becker Funeral Home and Cremation Service of
Snyder.

Olvis was born March 26th, 1924 in western Comanche County to John Hardy and
Georgia Elena Hall Jones. He grew up south of Cooperton, attending Springhill and Cooperton
schools. Olvis served in the military in 1945-46, including service in occupied Japan.

He married Joyce Lee December 13, 1952 while he was employed at Anthony Ford Garage
in Snyder as a mechanic. In 1956 he began work as a helicopter mechanic at Mineral Wells,
Texas. While there he earned his fixed-wing pilot license and also learned to fly helicopters.
In 1959 he began working in final assembly building helicopters for Brantly Helicopter, Inc. at
Frederick. He soon became the supervisor and later he earned his rotorcraft pilot license and
became both production and experimental test pilot for the company. After Brantly Helicopter,
Inc. ceased production, Olvis continued working for Mr. Brantly at other manufacturing
companies for 15 years. He then went back to flying and working on Brantly helicopters until
retirement. During his career Olvis became the expert on Brantly helicopters. He traveled
nationwide and internationally to trouble-shoot, repair and test fly the Brantlys. In his spare
time he built a “Midget” Mustang aircraft, a one person airplane.

Olvis and wife returned to Snyder, living there the next 20 years before moving to Cache one
year ago.

Olvis accepted the Lord as his Saviour at Cooperton Baptist Church. He also
served the Lord in Frederick First Baptist, Snyder Southside Baptist and was a member of
Indiahoma First Baptist at the time of his death. He dearly loved his immediate family as well
as his extended family.

Olvis is survived by his loving wife Joyce of 63 years; two daughters: Retha Mitchell and
husband Jack of Frederick, Melody Simpson and husband Richard of Ardmore; three
grandchildren: Kevin Mitchell, Rachel Simpson and Jeremy Simpson; numerous nieces and
nephews, sister-in-law, Jimmy Lou Jones and a large extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents John and Georgia Jones, six brothers:
John DeVern, Greely, Leo, Billy Zane, Virgil Dale and LaVoy Jones: four sisters Mozel Jones, Marjorie
Rogers, Jeneal Riley and Leola Powell and two nephews: Michael Rogers and Leon Jones.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Indiahoma or a favorite charity.
Visitation will be Tuesday evening 5-7 p.m. at Becker Funeral Home, Snyder.

[Brad Bowles]

Sorry for your loss! Olvis and Harold will be missed.