LURAY, Va. (WYMT/Gray News) - Ben Jones, who played mechanic Cooter Davenport on the hit television show ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’, has died. He was 84.

His wife posted on social media that Jones died of a massive heart attack at home Sunday.

‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ ran for seven seasons on CBS, from 1979 to 1985. Jones appeared in all seasons.

Jones was also a business owner and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1989 to 1993 when he lived in Georgia.

Many fans have probably visited ‘Cooter’s Place’, which is a ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ themed museum and store with three locations in Nashville, TN, Pigeon Forge, TN and Luray, VA.

Jones and his wife lived near their store in Luray, and Jones would often greet fans and sing there with ‘Cooter’s Garage Band’.

He and his wife also coordinated many ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ fan and reunion events through the years.

Jones also appeared on ‘Issues and Answers’ with anchor Steve Hensley twice. The first time he was in the WYMT studio in 2015. He reflected on what made the ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ so popular.

“They see Cooter and smile, or the car (the General Lee) or Daisy, they smile... our show made people happy and it didn’t matter what color they were or where they were from or what their politics were, it made people happy.” You can see that entire interview again here.

Jones would have turned 85 later this month.

Another ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ reunion event was planned in Luray to celebrate, alongside other cast members including Sonny “Enos” Shroyer, who will turn 91 August 28.

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