Former longtime Capitol journalist Lee Jones of Austin has died

JONES, Lee Lee Jones of Austin died December 7th, 2020 at the age of 82. He was born to A. Raymond and Virginia Edna Jones (later Ellett) on May 21, 1938, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in Dallas, where he was an Eagle Scout, graduated from Sunset High School in 1956, and married his senior prom date, Cinda Sue Gathings, in 1959. Lee attended Stanford University and graduated cum laude from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor of journalism degree in 1960, followed by BA and MA degrees in economics. He was an Associated Press capitol reporter in Austin from 1960 to 1981 (with two years off for service as an Army lieutenant), a Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter 1981-1986 and a public information officer for the Texas Department of Insurance 1986-2003. As a journalist, he won three Headliners Club awards and was a proud member of the Wire Service Guild, participating in the WSG's 1969 strike against the AP. He also was active in the Society of Professional Journalists, including service as Austin chapter president followed by more than 20 years as treasurer. His enthusiasms included golf, Longhorn football, genealogy, stamp collecting and choral music. Starting in 1982, he was a member at various times of the Austin Civic Chorus, the Austin Choral Union and the Texas Choral Consort. Lee also was active in Trinity Presbyterian Church and its post-merger successor, Genesis Presbyterian Church, serving 15 years as a ruling elder. Lee is survived by his wife, Cinda; son , Steven " Sam" Jones of Giddings , Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Tina Anne and Wesley Pena of Pipe Creek, Texas; grandson and daughter-in-law, Jason and Stacy Jones of Lone Oak, Texas; Three Great Grandchildren, Tyler Steven Jones, of Lone Oak, Texas; Layla Elen Jones, and Cyndalee Ann Jones of Port Isabel, Texas; brother and sister-in-law, John and Sharon Jones of Richardson; nephew, Doug Jones of Dallas; and niece, Kelly Erb, of Allen. A memorial service will be held at the Genesis Presbyterian courtyard at 2:00 pm on December 20, 2020 for the family only. A celebration of his life will be scheduled in the spring of 2021. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chorus Austin, found at www.chorusaustin.org. Remembrances may be shared at www.wcfish.com

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Published in Austin American-Statesman on Dec. 13, 2020.