John Clayton Jay McNett, age 82, Yates Center, passed away at his residence on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. Jay was born on July 21, 1936, to John Wesley and Mary M. Madge Collins McNett.
Jay graduated from Yates Center High School in 1954. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country from 1955 to 1963. Jay and Roberta Ann Nichols were married April 16, 1955, in Fort Smith, Ark. They later divorced. Jay and Janie Spencer were married in 1977. They later divorced.
Jay was a member of St. Martins Catholic Church in Piqua and a Third-Degree Knight in the Piqua Knights of Columbus.
Jay loved his work. He did many things and accomplished much in his lifetime. He was a Kansas licensed barber for 51 years. Jay operated heavy construction equipment for 63 years, building terraces, waterways, ponds, and clearing timber. He also worked for Gates Rubber Company in Iola for 19 years, retiring in 1997.
Jay was known for his love of coyote hunting, raising dogs and hounds, raising and racing horses and mules, helping others with their animals, and gardening. Jay was known for his vegetable soup and pickle-making. Jay had friends far and wide, never meeting a stranger. He was a true friend who was always there to help and assist.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Margo McNett-Kessler; one brother, Thelbert Cop McNett; two sisters, Dolores Miller and Shirley Wood.
Jay is survived by his companion, Carolyn McGown, of the home; two sons, John JD McNett and companion, Tammie Fee, Yates Center, and Jack JD Spencer and fiancé, Shirley, Iola; four daughters, Theresa McNett and companion, Jim Weseloh, Farlington, Mary Glor and husband, Tom, Somerset, Colo., Mardell Chambers, Yates Center, Kim McNett, Yates Center; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
A rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. Friday at St. Martins Oratory, Piqua, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 3:30 p.m. Inurnment with military honors will follow in St. Martins Catholic Cemetery, Piqua.
The family requests memorials to Friends For Life, a cancer support group in Yates Center, and may be left at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Iola, Kansas.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.
