Tommy Ray Jones

Tommy Ray Jones, age 63 of Amarillo died on March 17, 2026 at his home in Amarillo.

A memorial gathering to celebrate and honor Tom's life will be on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel, 4100 South Georgia. Tom's friend and colleague, Dr. Ben Richardson, Senior Technical Advisor, Banda Group International, resident at Pantex will facilitate the gathering.

Born on June 8, 1962, in Dumas, Texas, to William Ross and Marion Elizabeth Cline Jones, Tom graduated from Dumas High School in 1980. He continued his education at Texas Tech University, earning his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Engineering Physics.

The summer before his senior year in high school, he was selected to attend what they fondly called a "nerd trip" to a Nuclear Science Symposium hosted by the University of Texas. It was there that he met Marci Wescott - and, as the saying goes, the rest is history.

The two were married on June 18, 1983, in Hart, Texas, beginning an adventure that would span more than forty-two years and grow to include their two beloved children, Jordan and Hannah.

Tom was presented with numerous career opportunities. However, staying close to home was a priority for him and his family. He accepted a position at Pantex, where he built a remarkable 40-year career, contributing across multiple areas of the nuclear complex. In 2025, he concluded his professional journey with the Department of Energy.

Throughout his distinguished career, Tom was frequently called upon to support and advance developments within the industry. He was widely respected for his talent, expertise, and the high level of skill he brought to his work.

Tom often said he was an engineer to provide for his family, and a photographer to nourish his soul. While attending Texas Tech, he took a job in the camera department at Montgomery Ward. True to his engineering nature, he immersed himself in research - studying every aspect of photography. It didn't take long before he was captivated; what began as curiosity quickly became a lifelong passion.

Photography became his creative outlet and a way to connect with others. Around 2002, he founded Wild Skies Photography, a venture rooted not in profit, but in generosity. His mission was simple yet powerful: to provide families with meaningful photographs they might not otherwise be able to afford. Tom believed that everyone deserved senior portraits and family photos, regardless of their financial situation-and for many years, he quietly made that belief a reality.

He also dedicated countless hours to photographing the often-overlooked moments in school athletics. While others focused on the spotlight of Friday night football, Tom turned his lens toward the stands, taking pictures of the band. Countless other days were spent taking pictures of cross country runners, softball players, and others whose stories deserved to be seen and remembered.

Lately, Tom dove deeper into his life-long fascination of the universe through astrophotography. With his telescope, he captured the mystery and beauty of the night sky, continuing to explore and share wonder through his lens.

Though Tom could appear tough on the outside, those who knew him best understood he was a big softie with a deeply compassionate heart. He was a constant, steady presence in the lives of his children, Jordan and Hannah, never missing a chance to support and encourage them. From Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts-and even Girl Scouts-Tom committed to being a troop leader, giving his time and energy to help create meaningful experiences for not only his own children, but many others as well. Whether it was a meeting, concert, game, or special event, Tom and Marci were always there, showing up with pride, love, and unwavering support.

Had teaching been able to provide for his family financially, Tom would have gladly become a physics teacher. He had a deep love for learning and an even greater passion for sharing knowledge with others. With an almost photographic memory, he carried a vast store of information and took joy in passing it along. He often joked that he was the nerdiest person in the room-and took great pride in it. He spent many years studying the Bible, and shared his faith by teaching "The Seekers" Sunday school class.

He made every effort to teach and inspire his children, encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of discovery. Tom was generous to his core, always giving of himself in ways both big and small. Gift-giving was his love language, and he expressed it not only through thoughtful presents, but through his photography and the countless ways he showed up for others.

His love of dogs was a huge part of his life. Tom and Marci's "first child" was Halli, a mini schnauzer who trained them for their future parenthood. The family loved many dogs over the years, but Tom's special dogs were Kalli - a sweet natured mini schnauzer who was meant to be Hannah's but bonded with Tom, Kira or "RaRa" - a golden sheltie also "stolen" from Hannah who loved to ride in the pickup, and in November 2025 he adopted Ruby - a chiweenie with big ears and an even bigger personality who he would say rescued him.

Tom was a loyal Dallas Cowboys fan - even in the tough years. On Sundays, their tradition became grilling something to eat and watching the Cowboys get beat.

After retirement, Tom discovered a new source of peace and joy at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens. He would spend hours there, soaking in the sunshine and surrounding himself with the beauty of the gardens. It became a place of quiet reflection and inspiration.

True to who he was, Tom found a way to give back. He recently decided to volunteer, stepping in to donate his time and eager to share the gardens' beauty through his lens. Though time was not on his side, his desire to create, to serve, and to capture moments of wonder never faded.Through his talents, his time, and his kindness, Tom gave the world a glimpse of a truly brilliant and generous man-one whose impact will be felt for years to come.He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Francess Hutcherson; and his brother-in-law, Jay Wescott.

Tom is survived by his wife that he loved and cherished, Marci; his son, Jordan Jones and his partner Chris Henderson; his daughter Hannah Jones and her partner Gage Ayala; two brothers, Bill Jones and Wayne Jones; special family friends, Kraig and Mary Nell Hunt; the family pup, Gambit; and by Tom's devoted furbaby, Ruby.

The family suggest that memorials be made to the Amarillo Botanical Gardens in Tom's Memory.