Herbert J. Nelson Jones

Herbert J. Nelson Jones, age 91, of Little Rock, passed away Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. Herbert was born January 26, 1921 to Herbert D. and Tempest Jones in Winthrop, Arkansas, who preceded him in his death. Also preceding him in his death was his wife Juanita, his brother, Kent, and his daughter, Bobbie Jean. Herbert is survived by nine children, Wayne, Paul, Ronnie, Merrilee Love (Glen), Robert, Candyce Matthews (Charles), Steve (Mary), Brian (Tarin) and Herbert Jr.; 19 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. At age 18 Herbert enlisted in the United States Army and served on the front lines in General Patton's Army, 2nd Infantry Regiment, as a machine gunner where he fought through France and into Germany until Germany's surrender. Upon his honorable discharge in 1946, Herbert's first job upon returning to civilian life was in Little Rock where he worked as a route manager for the Arkansas Democrat. It was while working for the Arkansas Democrat that Herbert had the opportunity to study the daily advertisements buying and selling cars and when he realized that he could buy and sell cars as good as anyone. With no formal business training, but gifted with incurable optimism, a focused business sense, an unrivaled work ethic, a unique sense of humor and a knack for dealing with the public, Herbert opened a used car lot on 5th and Ringo in Little Rock in 1946. The story might be hard to accept for anyone born after 1970, but it was while Herbert was operating his used car lot in the spring of 1966 at Asher and Mabelvale that, with no preamble or warning, a representative of Toyota Motors happened to stop by late in the afternoon while on his way out of town after a long day spent unsuccessfully trying to convince the established Little Rock car dealers to carry the Toyota line of cars, and asked Herbert to please become Arkansas' first Toyota dealer. The rest is history. Herbert introduced Toyota to Arkansas, and, in the process, Herbert's company, eventually located at 5909 South University in Little Rock, became the best selling Toyota dealership in Arkansas for many years and was consistently in the top one percent in terms of sales in the southeastern United States. Later Herbert took on the Volvo franchise and his company, Jones Toyota-Volvo eventually became one of the best known and successful automotive dealerships in Arkansas. Other dealerships followed and as one newspaper reported in 1990, the Jones dealerships became a network of dealerships with locations in Little Rock, North Little Rock and Benton. As an established businessman and as the patriarch of large and growing family, Herbert eventually became known statewide as a supporter of many civic causes and as a contributing member of a number of civic, charitable and business oriented boards, agencies and commissions. That said, Herbert is best remembered by many as a man who treated all his employees with a great deal of love and respect and who did not hesitate to help them when a crises hit. A 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner, Herbert was also a long time member of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, where over many years he served on various committees. Herbert was also a major contributor to Children's Hospital. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Thursday, August 23, 2012, at the funeral home. Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Friday, in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth, 5800 W. 12th Street, Little Rock. Burial will follow in Forest Hills Cemetery. The family suggests that memorials be made to the Arkansas Children's Hospital, to Pulaski Heights Baptist Church of your choice. Please send the family messages of love and comfort to Mr. Jones' online guestbook at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.