Jacob Floyd Maggs passed away on April 29, 2020, in Little Rock, Arkansas at age 84. He was born on March 25, 1936 in Auburn, Illinois.
He was Preceded in death by his mother, Nina Maggs; father, Jacob Maggs; sister, Bonita Maggs Stevens; wives, Mildred A Maggs and Pat M. Maggs; and brothers-in-law, David and Mark Chudy.
He is survived by wife, Nancy L. Maggs; sons, William (Bill) Maggs and wife Stella of Richland Hills, TX; Jason Maggs of Monroe, LA; Daughters, Kathy Wright and husband Larry of Lakeland, FL and Shelley Presley and husband Matt of Brandon, MS. Sister-in-law, Cathy Cools Ulmer and husband, James of Houston, TX; Brother-in-Law, Mike Chudy and fiancé, Karen; brother-in-law, Ray Stevens of San Fernando, CA; Grandchildren Brian and Eric Wright; Sofia Presley; Jason Lolling, Stephanie Braswell and husband Casey; Nicole Pearcy, Chelsea Emerson, Chris Crowder and 9 Great Grandchildren, Tyler, Jordan, Jackson, Lilyann, Madison,Cody, Elizabeth, Alima and Piper and one great-great grandchild Charlie.
After his dad passed away at 13 years old he started working, after school, setting pins at the bowling alley to provide additional income for his mom and sister. In 1954, after graduating high school, he began his career in the automotive parts business at Gietl Bros. Auto Parts in Springfield, IL. In 1956 he, his wife, Millie and 18 month old daughter, Kathy moved to Glendale, CA where he worked as a machinist at Lockheed Aircraft Co. In Sept 1957 he returned to the auto parts business at HM Parker & Son, whom was later acquired by Gulf & Western Ind. (American Parts System). In 1968 he transferred to Dallas, TX as General Manager of 7 company stores. In 1970 he transferred to Houston, TX as Sales Manager of the Big ‘A’ Distribution Center where he was promoted to General Manager in 1976. In 1978 he left Houston and moved to Birmingham, AL as General Manager of ITT Automotive Division (Autowize) until 1985 when he returned to Big ‘A’ and moved to Atlanta, GA as Sales Manager.
In February 1988 he transferred to Monroe, LA as Sales Manager. In 2000 Parts Warehouse, Inc. of Little Rock, AR acquired the operation in Monroe and it became Bumper to Bumper where he traveled TX, LA, MS and AL. In January 2010 Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri were added. What a great and wonderful journey! As his boss (Ray Mohler) often said: “to Jake – Every day is a holiday and every meal a feast.” He loves God, family and the auto parts business.” He introduced his son, Bill to the parts business at an early age of 6 years. Bill has followed his dad’s love for the business starting in 1976 after going to Northwood Institute in Midland, MI. In March, 2018, Jake retired from Bumper to Bumper after 64 years in the auto parts industry.
Jake was a member of First Baptist Church in West Monroe, LA. He and his wife, Pat, were involved in the TV ministry for years. Then he and his wife, Nancy, were members of First United Methodist Church, North Little Rock, AR. He is a member of Masonic Lodge Dee A. Strickland 465 and a 32nd degree member of the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry in Monroe, LA.
Memorial service will be planned at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Jake Maggs to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, 7101 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1300, Bethesda, MD 20814 or visit www.uofa-foundation.org to make an on-line contribution.
Condolences may be made on this web site at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.