Published by Legacy Remembers from Feb. 11 to Feb. 13, 2024.
Lakeland - Gordon Lee Jones Sr., 86, passed away Saturday February 10, 2024. Gordon was born July 21, 1937 in Memphis, TN He was preceded in death by his parents, Forrest Rebel Jones and Helen Bess Hartman Jones and two brothers Forrest Robert Jones Sr. and Leonard Eugene Jones Sr., late wife Betty Jean Houlihan Jones and son in law, Wallace Moll.
Gordon attended Merrill and Gordon Elementary Schools Memphis, TN and Graduated High School Humes High School 1956 Memphis, TN. He attended Memphis State University, State Tech Institute, Southwest Community College, and Auburn University Extension Center-Montgomery Alabama. He served 8 years in US Army National Guard, and US Army Reserve. Received Honorable Discharge in 1963.
Gordon and Late wife Betty Jean Houlihan Jones are parents of: Gordon Lee Jones Jr. (Tammy)
Freeport, FL, David Allen Jones (Michelle) Hope Hull, AL and Angela Diane Moll Franklin, TN.
He is survived by his wife, Jean Hodge Jones, four Grandchildren; Michael Andrew Jones, Christopher Allen Jones, Presley Jean Moll, and Peyton Wallis Moll, several nephews and nieces. Stepmother-Pauline Jones Collierville, TN. and five half brothers and sisters.
In Memphis TN at the age of 8, He started helping a friend with the Press Scimitar Paper Route.
He helped throw the paper on Monday thru Friday and was paid $1 a week. The bus fare was 7c. At that time movies were .10c, bar of candy was .5c, cokes were a nickel, and he could do a lot with the dollar. At the age of 11, He took over the paper route and when he was 16, he got his first
Commercial Appeal route and had that route until he was 19.
Gordon began working in Data Processing in March 1957 and at that time the information was punched into cards and that was fed into the tabulating equipment. Also, there were boards wired that was used for various type of card processing equipment that was used to print reports. There were very few computers at that time. Mostly the large companies and the military had large computer equipment. Later into the 1960's computers were available for smaller companies and as a result started migrating from punched card technology. Started as a tabulating equipment operator then moved into Computer Programming in the early 1960's and eventually held positions as Systems Analysts, Data Processing Manager, Information System Manager. Worked for Gray Mercantile, Memphis TN. Blount Construction Company-Montgomery Ala, Hunter Fan, Leader Federal Savings & Loan Memphis TN, Witt (Carrier Corp.) Manufacturing in Collierville, TN. Retired from Shelby County Government in 2005. Gordon performed contract programming for various companies in Memphis. Instructor of Computer Programming courses during evening hours at State Tech Institute in Memphis, TN from 1982- 1993. The entire 48 years of working experience was in Data Processing and Information Technology. After retiring in 2005, he started volunteering for the Collierville, TN police department as a Citizens Volunteer Program. During that time, Gordon was asked to work on Special Projects for the Police Department that required systems design and programming techniques. Worked with several personnel within the police department to accomplish the desired results. Received an award for designing those forms and reports, for it saved the Police Department several thousand-man hours. Gordon retired March of 2023 after 18 years of Volunteer Service. He established a CVP Photo History book that went back to 1993 when the CVP program began. This has been updated since it started in June of 2015.
He was a member of Speedway Terrace Baptist Church 1946-1957. Baptized in 1953 by Pastor Dr. Mark Harris. Leawood Baptist Church Memphis, TN 1958-1960. Eastern Hills Baptist Church Montgomery Alabama 1960-1969. Ardmore Baptist Church Memphis, TN 1969-1986. Coached little league baseball for several years for the church team. He served as an Usher at Germantown Baptist Church 2004-2009. He was currently member of Faith Baptist Church Bartlett.
Gordon enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling to Italy, Israel, Florida, Alaska, and other places of interest, playing guitar and singing Bluegrass and Country Music with wife, Jean.
Gordon was a member of following: Data Processing Management Association, Memphis Area Blue Grass Association and the
Lakeland, TN Senior Center Musicians, and Citizens Volunteer Program for the Police Department in Collierville, TN January 2005-2023.
The family will receive friends Thursday, February 15, from 1:00 pm until funeral services begin at 2:00. All services will be held at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Parkway, Bartlett TN 38133. Burial will follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery.