Maxwell Ray Jones was born October 7, 1936, to Dolphus and Allie Jones.  He was one of seven children.  Like most families of that time, they supported themselves from the farm.  They raised cotton, corn, and peaches in the Liberty Hill community.

Ray graduated from Chilton County High School in 1955 and later joined the Air National Guard.  During the Cuban Missile Crisis, his unit was activated and stationed in France.  After that he served his country, he returned home to help with the family farm, began working for the Birmingham Fire Department, married and started a family.

His schedule at the Fire Department allowed him to begin a business repairing lawn mowers.  He did this for many years from his parent’s garage.  As he began to think of retiring from the fire department, lawn mower repair became a full-time job.  He moved the business to Clanton as a Snapper and Stihl dealership, known as Clanton Air Cooled Engines, all while growing his cattle farm.

Throughout his life, family was very important to him.  He is survived by his sister, Faye Watts, and a host of nieces and nephews.  He is pre-deceased by his children, Maxwell Keith Jones and Lisa Ann Robinson, his parents, Dolphus and Allie Jones, as well as his siblings: twins, Louise Thornton and Lucille Chancellor, Bernice Jones, Calvin Jones and Calvin’s still born twin.

The family would like to say a special thank you to Mr. Johnny Livingston.  The care that he provided enabled Ray to stay comfortably at his home until his death on December 28, 2018.

Visitation was Sunday, December 30, 2018, from 1 – 2 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home Chapel with services beginning at 2 p.m.

Martin Funeral Home directing.

www.martinfuneralhomeinc.com