Merida "Merdy" Jones Jr. of Creekwood/Hondo, 58, passed away at his home on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, following a three-year battle with transitional cell carcinoma (cancer). Born Jan. 27, 1958, in the old coal mining town of Hyden KY, he was the son of Merida Sr. and Gladys Smith Jones. He attended James A. Cawood High School in Harlan KY and went on to become a self-taught master auto mechanic and a master light/heavy-weight diesel mechanic. He worked for EG&G Automotive Research in D'Hanis for 20 years, for Pepsi Cola in San Antonio 14 years and was a professional truck driver. He is preceded in death by his father. Merdy is survived by his wife of 38 years, Linda Susan Fee Jones; daughters, Meredith Jean (Robert) Ogle and Jacquline Janelle (Jonathan) Solis, all of San Antonio; sons, Merida Jones III and Matthew Robert (Katherine Moffett-)Jones, all of Hondo; grandchildren, Blake Victor Valenzuela, Merida "Bubba" Jones IV, Amber Marie Lynn Jones, Cohen Robert Jones, Branson Hawk Ogle, Hagen Cole Jones, Hunter Ogle, Hailey LeAnn Jones, Devon Matthew Ogle, Makayla-Lynn Renee Jones, Abbygail Elizabeth Jones and Cheyenne Menee Ogle; great-grandchildren, Bella Bay Solis and Major Maximum Solis. Also surviving are his mother, Gladys Smith Jones; sisters, Pamela (Cliff) Napier and Patricia (Ron) Woodby; brothers, Donnie Jones and Terry (Sharri) Jones, all of Harlen KY. Memorial service will be at 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15, at Harvest Tabernacle Church, 215 North Teel, Devine. While sympathy flowers and potted plants are welcome, the family suggests memorials may be made to any charity of one's choice in the fight against cancer.