Marcus E. Jones

Marcus English Jones, passed away May 30th, 2014, at the age of 92. Born to Charlie A. & Martha E. Jones on August 19, 1921, he moved to Houston in 1932 at the age of twelve where he lived all of his life. He graduated with the first class of the then "brand new" Stephen F. Austin High School in 1938 and then attended the University of Houston in the class of 1942. Marcus joined the United States Air Force as an aviation cadet in 1941 without finishing college and graduated from the Blackland Army Flying School in Waco. There he received his wings from the U.S. Air Force Twin Engine Flying School at Waco in the class of 43-E. Marcus was assigned to the Central Flying Training Command, where he accumulated several thousand hours of flying time in multi-engine aircraft. He was promoted to instructor duty at the B-17 Transition School at Hobbs, New Mexico where he served until the end of World War II. Flying remained a primary importance to him even after the war.

In the post-war period, he embarked on a 40 year career in the automobile business and from the humble beginning as a salesman, progressed to become a Buick Dealer in Houston. His business spanned almost thirty years of successful operation, and he was very proud to become a contemporary of the old timers whose names he had learned to respect as he earned his place among them in the automotive community. Marcus served as President of the Houston Automobile Dealers association as well as many other industry activities.

He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Marcus Jr. in 2005. He is survived by his wife, Yvonne, whom he married in 1946. They celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary on May 28th; children are, Carol Lynn Reading, Beverly Ann Hamelin, Debra Lee Kerkstra and Douglas Henry Jones. There are six grandchildren, Lisa Hamelin Johnson, Laura Hamelin, Leslie Hamelin Reese, Marcus Reading, Lee Reading and Jillian Kerkstra and six great grandchildren: Jared, Lauren and Lindsey Johnson; Olivia and Henry Banchetti; and Ava Reese.

Marcus was an avid golfer and took great pride to be a member of the team that won the first Legends of Golf Pro-Am Tournament at Onion Creek Country Club in Austin, Texas. He enjoyed playing many of the premier golf courses around the world including St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, Cypress Point and The Rivera. Marcus was fortunate to have developed many friendships from his golfing activities at Sugar Creek Country Club, where he was active from 1977 until his death. He also enjoyed getting away to his Lake Livingston home when time permitted, where his children and later his grandchildren shared the good times fishing, water skiing, swimming and playing as a part of family recreational activities.

One of his most cherished accomplishments was having been a successful Buick Dealer in Houston for thirty years where Marcus converted repeat customers into lifelong friends. He considered it a privilege to be recognized as a part of the growth of the Houston area during the time when the city expanded from a population of 250,000 into the fourth largest city in the nation.

The family will welcome visitation from friends at Forest Park Westheimer on Monday, June 2nd from 6 to 8 pm. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 3rd in the main chapel of Forest Park Westheimer at 10 am.