Zachary Chaffin Jones

zachary jones

February 21, 1962 ~ June 8, 2024

Born in: Seoul, South Korea
Resided in: Brentwood, Tennessee

Zachary Chaffin Jones died unexpectedly on the afternoon of Saturday, June 8, 2024 after falling ill in Bozeman, Montana on the way to a hiking trip in Yellowstone National Park.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years Elizabeth Boyd Jones, his beloved sons Jordan Boyd Jones (Ashley), Grant Chaffin Jones (Sydney), William Turner Jones (fiancée Mallory), and granddaughters Sophie Elizabeth Jones and Madeline Blake Jones. He is also survived by his father-in-law (Morrell Vinson Boyd) and brothers Marshall Paul Jones, Jr. (Clay Fulghum) and Tarpley Brooks Jones, Sr. (Beverly), and their children. He is preceded in death by his parents Marshall Paul Jones, Sr. and Virginia Spitler Jones of Murray, Kentucky.

Zach was born in Seoul, Korea on February 21, 1962 where his father worked at the American Embassy. He later lived in Blantyre, Malawi after his father was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Malawi under President Lyndon Johnson. Between his father’s diplomatic appointments, Zach’s family lived in Bethesda, Maryland where Zach attended grade school. When his father retired from diplomatic service in 1971, the Jones family moved to Murray, Kentucky where Zach graduated from Murray High School in 1980 and Murray State University in 1984. While a student in Murray, Zach took great pride in his job at Murray Water Systems.

After graduating, Zach moved to Nashville and worked at Parametric Technologies, Burroughs Corporation, and Ernst & Young before settling into a career at Dell Technologies where he worked for 22 years before retiring as the Senior VP for the Mid-Atlantic Division in 2019. Zach is remembered as an esteemed colleague and respected mentor.

Most importantly, Zach met the love of his life, Beth Boyd, in 1985. They married on March 5, 1988, and together built a family that became the center of Zach’s universe. He was devoted to his wife and sons and they, in turn, adored him. He was always extremely close to his sons, and they shared an interest in the Tennessee Titans, SEC sports, and their ever-growing collection of rescue dogs. To his great joy, Zach later became “Papa” to his beloved granddaughters, Sophie and Madeline.

After retiring, Zach, always an avid outdoorsman, finally was able to devote time to fishing, traveling, and exploring the great outdoors. In fact, he spent his final months searching for bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and excitedly planning a bucket list hiking adventure in Yellowstone.

Zach attended Mill Creek Church of Christ in Nolensville, TN with his wife and father-in-law.

The family would like to gratefully acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of the Bozeman first responders, as well as the doctors, APPs, and nurses at both Bozeman Deaconess Hospital and Piedmont Atlanta Hospital.

There will be a private family memorial service at a later date at Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Donations in Zach’s memory can be made to Yellowstone Forever (P.O Box 1857, Bozeman, MT 59771-1857).

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  1. Ed Umstead says:

    Wonderful weekend in Jacksonville FL. Watching the Dawgs defeat the Gators!

  2. Ed Umstead says:

    Great picture of the Jones Family!

  3. Ed Carlisle says:

    My college roommate our freshman year at MSU. We stayed in contact over the years, Such a great and successful guy. RIP my friend, and God Bless your wife Beth and your boys.


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