Earl LeRoy Jones

Earl Leroy Jones of Carmel, IN passed away peacefully on May 21st, 2026. Born in Peru, IN on August 7th, 1928 to Grace (Bannister) and Eli Elwood Jones, Earl was the youngest of Eli’s eleven children and Grace’s three children. After Grace passed, the family - Eli, Madeline, Lois and Earl - went to live at The Masonic Home in Franklin, IN. For the first two years, Earl got to stay with his sister’s in the girls’ cottage and moved to the boys’ cottage at age 6. Eli lived in a separate cottage, passing away when Earl was 12 years old. Earl remained at The Masonic Home until he turned 18 - growing up with 45 other boys and many, many stories of their mischief.

Earl married Janet Griffin on September 17th, 1950. Together, they had three children - Mike, Kelly, and Julie. Earl loved being a father and was the family patriarch, in every sense of the word. 

For 46 years, Earl ran the printing press at The Indianapolis Star, retiring in 1996. His work ethic was to be rivaled. He worked nights for many years, a second job as a bus driver for Lawrence Township Schools, and helped Mike with his paper route. In retirement, Earl drove a school bus for Carmel Clay Schools.

On March 19, 1977, Earl married Alice Padgett and they spent 47 wonderful years together, before Alice passed away in 2024. They watched their five children start families, traveled together, enjoyed their grandchildren, spent summers in their pool with friends and family, hosted countless get togethers, and watched their grandchildren grow up and start families of their own.

Earl is survived by his children Kelly Spradley, Julie Jones, Tom (Kim) Padgett, Jerry (Karen) Padgett, daughter-in-law Sandy Jones; grandchildren, Ashley (Chun) Davidson-Lam, Kellina (Ary) Avnet, Lauren (Brandon) Spradley-Collins, Lisa (Rick) Bovenizer, Kristen (Matt) Wells, Nathaniel (Samantha) Padgett, and Katie Padgett; great-grandchildren, Ellis Lam, Vivienne and Isabelle Avnet, Luke Bovenizer, Hudson and Sawyer Wells, Paige Hardman, Alice and Zoey Padgett, and Maverick Padgett.

Earl was preceded in death by wife, Alice, son Michael Jones, son-in-law Steve Spradley, and grandson Andrew Padgett; his parents Grace and Eli; and his siblings, Maude, Lawrence, Pharabe, Harold, Donald, DeSylvia, Agnes, Vida Mae, Mary Madeline, and Lois.

A Memorial Service honoring Earl's life will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 12pm at Flanner Buchanan - Carmel (325 E. Carmel Dr. Carmel, IN 46032). A Memorial Gathering will be held prior to the services from 10am -12pm. A graveside service will be held directly following at 2pm, June 10, 2026, at Lincoln memory Gardens Cemetery.