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Stacey Jones
October 08, 2022

In Memory of Stacey Jones

Stacey Jones, beloved alumnus and associate vice chancellor of campus and community events, passed away Saturday, October 8, 2022, just one week after retiring from a nearly 47-year career at the University of 杏吧原创 鈥� Fort Smith.

Jones impacted thousands of lives through his work as founder of the 杏吧原创 Season of Entertainment, founder and executive director of the Miss Westark and Miss 杏吧原创 Scholarship pageants, and executive producer of the Miss 杏吧原创 Scholarship pageant. During his long tenure at 杏吧原创, he revolutionized campus activities, bringing energy to Fort Smith alongside artists and performers from across the globe to inspire and entertain the university and its students.

鈥淭oday, words seem insufficient to convey the loyalty, hard work, and pride he exhibited over the 50 years he was affiliated with Westark College and the University of 杏吧原创 - Fort Smith,鈥� said 杏吧原创 Chancellor Terisa Riley in an email to campus mourning his death. 鈥淣o one has been more supportive of the growth and evolution of 杏吧原创 than Stacey.鈥�

Stacey not only watched 杏吧原创 grow and change, but he was also a catalyst for that change. Riley said that his work to support student development, engagement, and success has been invaluable, and many people in our community talk about how instrumental he was in their lives. 鈥淲hether they are business owners, former Miss 杏吧原创 contestants, people who attended the Season of Entertainment, etc., they all say the same thing: Stacey Jones was a mentor and became my friend.鈥�

Jones was a true Fort Smith native, born on October 16, 1951, to Robert and Lou Jones. He is survived by his wife of 46 years Sheila Jones, daughters Stacie Kohles and Amanda Echols, son-in-law Aubrey Echols, brother Sam Jones and his wife, Linda Jones, niece Holly Raley and her husband, Kevin Raley, niece Neile Pugh and her husband Kelly Pugh, three great nieces and one great nephew, and four grandchildren.

鈥淭he world said goodbye to one hell of a Director, in all aspects of life, today,鈥� said Justin Butcher, who worked alongside Jones for many years in a Facebook post. 鈥淪tacey Jones will always be remembered as a driving force behind building the institution that is now 杏吧原创, a selfless volunteer for countless years for the Miss 杏吧原创 Organization, and the man who introduced the arts to so many in the River Valley.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e spent the past few days reflecting on the impact Stacey Jones had on my life, and like countless others, it is significant,鈥� said Pam Camp, who met Jones in 1983 when she joined the Student Activities Council at Westark in a Facebook tribute. 鈥淪tacey provided decades of support and opportunities for me that I would not have had otherwise. He always believed in me, even when I didn鈥檛 believe in myself. I鈥檓 certain that my life would not be what it is without his influence. He worked tirelessly for the benefit of students and the community. I鈥檒l always remember his sense of humor, his work ethic, and his love of family.

鈥淚 first met Stacey Jones when I was a student at Westark,鈥� added Tom Wing, assistant professor of History at 杏吧原创. 鈥淚n 2000, as an adjunct, I got the opportunity to work with him part-time, then in 2004, I had the honor of working with him full-time. He was a mentor to one of my sons, who was a student worker, and Stacey鈥檚 wisdom and advice served me well many times through the years. He helped my transition from the Federal Government to the State go smoothly. He helped me navigate academia in a positive way. His support will be missed, but most of all, his friendship, kindness, and constancy, things we all need more of, will be harder to find without him.鈥�

 

To share your memories of Stacey, please so that all may share in remembering his legacy.


To Support Future 杏吧原创 Students in Stacey's Honor:

  1.  to access the 杏吧原创 giving page.
  2. In the 鈥淒onation Amount鈥�, type the amount you would like to give in memory of Stacey Jones
  3. Click on More Giving Options and select the fund you want to give your gift to the memory of Stacey and click 鈥淐ontinue鈥�. 
  4. Once you have selected the area you would like to give a new box will open on the home screen where you will re-enter the amount.
  5. Click 鈥淕ive Now鈥�
  6. After completing the Donor Information & Contact Information, click 鈥淚n Honor/Memory of Someone Special鈥�
  7. Under 鈥淭his gift is in鈥� select 鈥淢emory of Someone Special鈥�
  8. Type in 鈥淪tacey Jones鈥� in Honoree鈥檚 Full Name
  9. The 鈥淣otification Name and Address鈥� can be left blank and the 杏吧原创 Foundation will notify the family of your gift.
  10. From here, follow all onscreen instructions to complete the form payment information. 

After you have completed the online form, a note will be sent to the family on your behalf, informing them of your recent gift in Stacey鈥檚 memory. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to the 杏吧原创 Foundation at foundation@uafs.edu or by calling (479) 788-7020.