Vernon J. Jones

Vernon J. Jones, 88, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family at home on June 16, 2014. A loving husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, friend and community member, Vernon leaves a legacy of business smarts, generosity, humor, family and love. Born August 22, 1925 to Columbus McVey Jones and Fannie Mae (Boyd) Jones in Fig, North Carolina, Vernon moved to Maryland with his family when he was 12 years old. He left school to enlist in the US Navy during World War II, when he was assigned to the ship USS 181 (LSM). He was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church for more than 40 years.

In January of 1947, he married the love of his life, Catherine Marie Hash. The two had four children together: Larry, Danny, Beverly and Cathy. In 1950, Vernon bought the Jones car dealership in Conowingo from his father, Lum Jones. Together, Vernon and Catherine Marie grew and strengthened their business, eventually moving it to Bond Street in Bel Air in 1965. In 1973, Vernon moved the business to its current location at the intersection of Bel Air Road and Harford Road, where it has continued to thrive over 64 years. Vernon and Catherine Marie built the Jones car dealership from a small, two-person operation into Jones Junction, the largest family-owned retail car dealership in the state of Maryland, employing over 600 people. Vernon was an intuitive and caring businessman and made customer service a priority. He and Catherine Marie enjoyed many years of traveling around the country in their motorhome and spending their winters in Florida. A lover of bluegrass music and a practical joker, Vernon delighted in his friends and family. He also enjoyed a lifetime of summer memories at the family cabin on the Susquehanna River, entertaining many friends and family and teaching them to boat, water ski and fish.

Tragically, Vernon's daughter Cathy predeceased him in 1963, a burden he suffered deeply. He is also preceded in death by his sisters Ruth Jones Hawks and Ocie Jones Bowen. Vernon leaves many loving relatives and friends, including his faithful wife, Catherine Marie (Hash) Jones of Bel Air, MD; his dear sister, Marie Lower of Wilmington, DE; his loving children and their spouses, Beverly Jones of Bel Air, Danny and Gail Jones of Joppa, Larry and Terri Jones of Bel Air; his adoring grandchildren Renee Feller and her sons, Josh and Eric, of Tamarac, FL; Tiffany and Ron Hall and their children, Tyler and Madelyn of Bel Air; Larry Jones II of Mesa, AZ; Katie and Rick Carroll and their daughters, Avery and Peyton of Bel Air; and Christy Pardew and Josh Raisler Cohn and their sons, Oscar and Elias, of Boston, MA; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to St. Jude Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929.