Jay Dee Dains

Jay Dee Dains was born Nov. 13, 1929, to Seth B. and Irene (Loftin) Dains in Saint Clair County, and passed away Oct. 26, 2023, at Appleton City Manor.

He was called “Red” by his family and early childhood friends. Jay attended rural St. Clair County schools, Roscoe High School and graduated from Rockville High School in 1947. He attended the University of Missouri in Columbia for two years and then joined the United States Army in 1951. He went on to Officer’s Candidate School in July of that year and soon after graduation went to Korea. He operated radio communications from a mountaintop during his time in Korea. He also worked with communications at the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement that ended the war in July of 1953. After leaving Korea, he remained in the Army Reserves with the rank of Lt. Col. When he returned to Missouri, he completed his college education and worked in the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a Soil Conservationist for the Soil Conservation Service.

On Sept. 9, 1956, Jay married his college sweetheart, Mary Kathleen (Kathy) Hester, in Glasgow, Il. They had two sons, Everett Michael and Stephen Bert.

After spending a few years as a Soil Conservationist in Fulton and Shelbyville, Jay spent most of his working years in Columbia as an economist in the SCS state office. After his retirement from there he worked a few more years in Columbia as a building contractor. When his wife retired in Sept. of 1991, they moved back to St. Clair County.

Jay was an avid fisherman and hunter. He and Kathy loved to travel and spent several years in Florida during the winter and Alaska during the summer months. They enjoyed RVing all over the United States, Canada and Mexico. He was a member of the First Christian Church of El Dorado Springs where he was Elder Emeritus. He was also a 60+ year member of the Masonic Lodge.

Jay is survived by his wife, Mary Kathleen Dains, of the home; sons, Everett Michael Dains, and wife, Linda – Columbia, and Stephen Bert Dains, and wife, Kathy – Pleasant Hill; 10 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He also has one surviving sister, LaVerne Motley of rural Schell City.

Services were Tuesday, Oct. 31, at Sheldon Funeral Home, El Dorado Springs. A military graveside service followed at the Osceola Cemetery, Osceola.

Memorial Contributions were given to the First Christian Church of El Dorado Springs and ProMedica (Heartland) Hospice.