John Ervin Jones

Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville announces funeral services for Mr. John Ervin Jones, age 82, of Blairsville who passed away Monday, July 1, 2013 at his home surrounded by the love of his family.

Ervin was born in Blairsville on November 3, 1930 to the late Dewey & Carrie Ballard Jones. He married the love of his life, Joyce Gwendolyn Nichols on September 23, 1950. Together, they serve as a sterling example of marriage and would readily tell you that it's not easy, but well worth it! He enjoyed walking and walked 3 miles a day until 2012, but Ervin's walk with the Lord has always been strong. His life's desire was that all who he encountered would choose to accept Christ as their personal Savior. Gifted with a servants heart he has sacrificially given to many. Most Sunday mornings you could find him headed south to attend First Baptist Church of Atlanta to listen to his favorite pastor, Charles Stanley. Ervin was a hard working man who believed that "impossible" just meant that it would take a little longer. He loved his grandchildren dearly and spent a lot of his time with them, especially as toddlers. He could drive anything with wheels: school buses, trucks and farm equipment. He began to raise cattle and won Cattleman of the Year. At the age of 60 he started a trucking company that continues today. Ervin dreamed of taking his RV and going to Florida. He made a couple of short trips, but mostly used it as a hideaway in his shop. In his later years, Ervin was often heard saying, "If I had it to do over, I don't think I would work as hard". We can all benefit from those words of wisdom. We can't take material things with us, so make sure of your eternal destination and enjoy each day with those you love. He was greeted at the heavenly gates by: his parents and his sons, Benny & Terry Jones.

Ervin's warm spirit will be remembered and greatly missed by all who knew him, but especially by his family: loving wife of 62 1/2 years, Joyce Nichols Jones; daughter & son-in-law, Trudy & Anthony Matthew Smith; son & daughter-in-law, Keith & Janet Jones. Grandchildren: Billy Joe Jones, Melinda Gail Groves, Brannon Neal Jones, Hunter Smith, Emma Smith, Hayden Smith, Shelley Zeigler, Kyle Jones and Jessica Jones share in Ervin's legacy along with great grandchildren: Morgan, Mallory and Brycen Jones, Dawson and Drake Groves, Dustin "Bubba" and Tylan "Luther" Jones and Kahlilah Zeigler.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2013 from the Chapel of Cochran Funeral Home with Rev. Ric Hurd officiating. Special music will be presented by the Nichols family. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday from 1 p.m. until the service hour. Interment will follow in Jones Family Cemetery. The following gentlemen have been selected to serve as pallbearers: Billy Jones, Brannon Jones, Dustin Jones, Hunter Smith, Tylan Jones and Whitey Groves. Honorary escort will include: Kyle Jones, Hayden Smith, Dawson Groves, Drake Groves and Brycen Jones.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Gideon's International, P.O Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville.