12/12/2022
Marlin Ray Jones, Jr., 80, passed away December 11, 2022 at his home after a brief illness.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 15 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The funeral will be Friday, December 16, at 10:00 a.m. at Mangum Funeral Home with Bro. Keith Keele officiating. Interment and grave side service will follow at Jones Cemetery on County Road 3737.
Ray was born in Center to Marlin Ray Jones and Maurene Borders Jones on August 6, 1942. He was raised in Center and attended Center public schools graduating Center High School in 1960. He continued his education at Baylor before transferring to SFA and completing his degree there. He then went to work at Center Motor Company, the family business. Ray’s father died in 1967 when Ray was 25 years old. At that time he had five younger siblings ranging all the way down to 9. Ray undertook management of Center Motor Company for his mother. He continued in that capacity until 1980 when he acquired ownership of thebusiness. Ray often said that making money at a dealership in rural East Texas without a truckline was difficult, but he succeeded.
In 1989, Ray acquired Whiteside Chevrolet in Timpson and relocated the dealership to its present location on Highway 96 in Center. His son, Marlin, manages that business.
In 1990, Ray purchased Parker Motor Company, the local Ford dealership, from Frank Edward Parker. He moved the Lincoln Mercury dealership into that location on Shelbyville Street and operated the combined business under the Center Motor Company name.
In 2004, Ray bought American Outdoor Power, the Polaris, Kawasaki, and Yamaha ATV dealership in Timpson. He relocated that business to a location next door to Center Motor Company on Shelbyville Street in Center. That business now operates in that same location under the name Center Motor Company ATV.
In 2015, Ray acquired land on Hurst Street and built the current Center Motor Company building. That building is a state of the art Ford dealership that will serve this area for many years to come. Ray's son, Kevin, manages that dealership.
Ray’s death ends an extremely successful business career of over fifty years. He leaves two auto dealerships and an ATV dealership for his boys.
He is preceded by death his parents, Marlin Ray Jones and Maurene Borders Jones; wife, Jane Ellen Jones; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dan Parker and Virginia Parker.
He is survived by:
Sons:
Marlin Jones III and wife, Anna of Center
Kevin Jones and wife, Jennifer of Center
Grandchildren:
Collin Jones
Ryan Jones
Camille Jones
April Stephens
Ava Stephens Kyle
Great-Grandchild, Jaylee Arbuckle
Special Friend, Mary Owens
Brothers and Sister:
Jeff Jones and wife, Karen
Mike Jones and wife, Cherry
Deck Jones and wife, Montie
Jennifer Wulf and husband, Tim
Jack Jones and wife, Betty
Numerous Nieces and Nephews
Brother-in-law, Danny Parker and wife, Cindi
Sister-in-law, Teresa Parker
Pallbearers: Collin Jones, Ryan Jones, Terry Scull, Drew Scull, John Michael Burns, and Michael Haley. Honorary Pallbearers: Johny Covington, Sammy Dance, Fred Borders, Dan Fussell, and Mark Matthews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Catherine Pinkston Roughrider Scholarship Foundation. Donations can be mailed to: Roughrider Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 152, Center, Texas 75935. Visit online at http://roughriderscholarship.org/donations.
To send condolences or to sign an online register, please visit www.mangumfh.net. Mangum Funeral Home, Center, is in charge of arrangements.
