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James E. Jones, 59, owned Carl's gas station, car repair in Haddonfield

Days after the 1995 three-alarm blaze that destroyed Carl's Haddonfield Services Inc., a gas station and full-service car repair, owner James E. Jones set up a makeshift garage in a large tent.

Days after the 1995 three-alarm blaze that destroyed Carl's Haddonfield Services Inc., a gas station and full-service car repair, owner James E. Jones set up a makeshift garage in a large tent.

"He had enough insurance that he didn't have to do that," said Mr. Jones' friend and former boss Carl Nieukirk, from whom Jones had purchased the business.

In his 40 years at Carl's - as a mechanic and, later, as proprietor - Mr. Jones always put his customers first, say those who knew him.

Mr. Jones, 59, of Haddonfield, died of heart failure at his home on Saturday, Sept. 25.

The affable Westmont native began work at Carl's Sunoco, at Haddon and Wayne Avenues, at age 16 and knew everyone in town.

"I always said he should have been mayor," said his daughter, Jennifer Sutterley.

When Carl's burned down, Mr. Jones had had it for less than a year. The owners of the Haddonfield 7-Eleven set up a donation jar, which read: "Donations for Carl's Haddonfield Service - Let us all take care of Jim as he takes care of us."

Contributions topped $1,100, which Mr. Jones used to replace the shop's tools, according to a 1995 Inquirer article.

After graduating from Haddon Township High School in 1970, Mr. Jones continued part-time at Carl's while working full-time as a mechanic at a Buick dealership in Cherry Hill. Mr. Nieukirk hired him full-time in the early 1990s, after the dealership went out of business.

"I knew how good he was," Nieukirk recalled Tuesday. "That was the best thing I ever did."

Mr. Jones went out of his way to help people, Nieukirk said: "Nothing was too much trouble."

Mr. Jones managed the station for most of 1993, after Nieukirk broke his ankle. During his recuperation, the owner decided he was ready to retire and there was only one man he could imagine selling to: Mr. Jones. The transaction was done in 1994.

A lover of antique autos, Mr. Jones would buy or receive them as projects from friends. He often drove the restored cars in Haddonfield parades, his daughter said. He also was a member of the Haddonfield Lions Club and American Legion.

In addition to his daughter, Mr. Jones is survived by a son, James E. Jr.; three grandchildren; and two sisters. He also is survived by his former wife, Diane Coveleski.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, at Kain-Murphy Funeral Services, 15 West End Ave., Haddonfield.

A funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 1, at First Baptist Church of Haddonfield. Interment will be in Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson.