50 Years of Service! Devon Jones- Service Manager at St. George Ford Lincoln
This month we say, “Farewell” to a wonderful manager and person, Devon Jones. He has been in the business for over 50 years!
Starting in 1961, Devon started working at the age of 15 ½ at Bradshaw Ford located on the St. George Boulevard. His duties were to clean the shop windows, bathrooms, polish the showroom floor, help in the Parts Department, and clean up after the mechanics. In 1963, he moved into the Detail Bay that they nicknamed the “Frog Pond” where he was made head “Frog.” During that time, he washed and detailed vehicles, delivered vehicles to Las Vegas, Nevada, graduated from Dixie High School and began his degree at Dixie College.
In 1966, he started dating his sweetheart, Shirley in January and married her in May. He was drafted into the Navy the following month leaving for San Diego, California on June 21, 1966. The next four years, Devon and Shirley moved to California three times. Devon went to boot camp, lived on two ships, and spent one year on the swift boat to Vietnam. Their first son, Travis, was born while Devon was in Vietnam and was six months old before Devon got to see him. Stationed in Seattle, Washington, Devon got out of the Navy in March of 1970 after being in it 3 years, 11 months, 4 days, 9 hours, 27 minutes, and 9 ½ seconds. They were both very glad to get out of it!
The happy couple moved back to St. George and Devon started back at the Bradshaw Ford Body Shop the day after. In July, 1971, someone convinced Devon that he could make more money working for him so he quit his job and worked for him about a month. He then did road service on Utah Hill and said he did ok doing that in a “Dodge.”
In 1971, Devon started college again at Dixie College and opened his own business called, “Devon’s Auto Body” which he ran out his own home. In 1973 he worked for Ron Lemon at the Phillip 66 Station and in 1974, their second son, Shane, was born. It was at that time that Claron Bradshaw came looking for Devon to become his Shop Foreman. He has worked in the Service Department for the same company (now known as St. George Ford Lincoln), under 4 different owners & 3 different buildings, with his last position being Service Manager.
During the many years in the Service Department, Devon had a daughter, received many awards such as winning a trip to Rome in 1978, Canada in the 80’s, two trips to Mexico in 2009, and saw many changes over the years, but the thing that has always stayed consistent for him has been the friends he has made along the way.
From Lot Boy to Service Manager—50 years of great service!
Thank you, Devon Jones! You will be missed!
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