James "Rick" Jones

Frankfort - James Rick Jones of Frankfort, Kentucky passed away on April 19, 2025. He was the son of the late Exie and Allen Minton, Lexington, Kentucky. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Barbara Willett Jones; his daughter Meredith Jones Kingsley, his son-in-law Daniel Joseph Kingsley, and their children Henry James and Hayes Margaret Kingsley of Atlanta, Georgia; and his sister Debra Walker, her son Todd, his wife Kristen, and their two children, Ethan and Rylan Barnett of Sanford, Florida. Rick was also close to his cousins and extended family with whom he celebrated many special occasions. Rick was deeply proud of his roots in Eastern Kentucky, where he spent his early years. He graduated from George Rogers Clark High School and Transylvania University. Many of his Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity brothers were lifelong friends. After college, he enlisted in the military and served overseas for two years during the Vietnam War in Mannheim, Germany. Rick then attended the University of Kentucky College of Law on the G.I. Bill. He worked for the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission and as Deputy General Counsel for Governor Julian Carroll, who then appointed Rick as General Counsel of the Department of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. His next move was not typical, but neither was Rick – he packed up and moved to Australia to fish and explore. Upon his return to Kentucky, a mutual friend set up Rick and Barbara and they were married within a year of their first blind date – to hear him tell it, he did not need to wait, because he knew he had found the love of his life. Rick then served as the long-time General Counsel for the Department of Financial Institutions, from which he retired in July 2001, after 25 years of State Government service. In his retirement, he dabbled in other legal roles, but determined he was much happier tinkering on his farm property in Washington County. Throughout his life, Rick was an adventurer and an avid sportsman who loved to fish, hunt, and shoot competitively, which gave him the opportunity to travel and enjoy the outdoors and the company of dear friends and family. He participated in the Bluegrass State Games, international long-range individual and team championship matches in Canada and South Africa, and annual Silhouette National Championships at Raton, New Mexico, bringing home multiple awards. In addition, he shot sporting clays and multiple black powder large and small-bore disciplines. People were drawn to Rick’s tender heart and sage wisdom; he was a trusted confidante and loyal friend. Always the consummate host and true southern gentleman, Rick will be remembered for his warm hugs, big laugh, and even bigger stories. For many years, Rick hosted “The Game Dinner,” for which the price of admission was a dish made from wild game harvested during the previous hunting season. More important than what was consumed was the camaraderie shared with friends, new and old, none of whom were immune from finding themselves the subject of one of Rick’s tales. Although Rick would have you believe he was just a simple country boy from Eastern Kentucky, he was a voracious reader and history buff, which complemented his passion for travel. He was happiest, however, surrounded by family and friends in the Bluegrass State, usually with a glass of bourbon in hand. Rick’s most cherished roles by far were that of “Barb’s husband” and “Meredith’s dad,” and his favorite adventures were those the three shared together. In recent years, Rick treasured the title of “Grandad” to Henry and Hayes, who are among those who will miss him dearly. There will be a memorial service celebrating Rick’s life at Harrod Brothers Funeral Home, 312 Washington Street in Frankfort, on Monday the 5th of May at 11:00 A.M. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Harrod Brothers Funeral Home on Monday. Donations may be made in Rick’s memory to the UK Markey Cancer Foundation at 115 Waller Avenue, Suite 204, Lexington, KY 40503 or https://ukmarkey.org/ways-to-give/. Arrangements are under the direction of Harrod Brothers Funeral Home & Crematory.

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James "Rick" Jones

March 26, 1948 - April 19, 2025