Jay Vail

JAY VAIL James Walter Vail, Jr., son of James Walter Vail Sr. and Bertha P. Van Eaton Vail, was born, March 31, 1926 in LaCygne, Kansas. He departed this life, Wednesday, August 22, 2012, in his home, Camdenton, Missouri after battling Ichopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Carcinoid Tumors at the age of eighty-six years, four months and twenty-two days. On January 14, 1977 in Oak Grove, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Elise L. Lewis and he became a step-dad to four children. They have had thirty-five wonderful years together. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters; a grandson, Jay Patrick Vail; a granddaughter, Aubree Vail and a daughter-in-law, Anita Vail. Survivors include his wife, Elise Vail of the home; three sons, Michael Lynn Vail of Lawrence, Kansas, Dennis Lee Vail and wife Kellie of Louisburg, Kansas and Larry Jay Vail and wife Tanya of Olathe, Kansas; four step-children, Wrenda McKnight of Nixa, Missouri, Marshelle E. Vickers of Columbia, South Carolina, Lanise Matthews of Ozark, Missouri and Shawn Vickers of Ash Grove, Missouri; nine grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and many friends. Jay was raised in Kansas. He served his country proudly in the United States Navy during World War II. He ran a bulk milk route for fourteen years. He later worked for D&L Truck Lines in Kansas City and retired from Payless Cashways in Blue Springs, Missouri. In 1991 he moved to the Lake of the Ozarks where he worked at Carl's Market. He later moved to Timberlake Village in Sunrise Beach where he worked for nine years for Poly-Lift. He retired at the age of eighty in 2006. Jay gave his life to Jesus as an adult while going to Merriam Bible Church in Merriam, Kansas. He was attending the Assembly of God Church until his health kept him from going. Jay had grown a lot spiritually since he and Elise have been married. He started reading devotionals every night and continued to do so during their marriage. In his spare time he and Elise enjoyed doing the same things, boating, playing games with their close friends, singing and listening to music and going to gospel singings at the lake. As they were out boating, Elise would often say to him, "If I die tomorrow you can know you made me so happy by us being able to be out here doing this." He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and will treasure the memories he created for his family and friends. He will be missed terribly. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 31, 2012 in Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will follow in Allee Memorial Gardens, Camdenton. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society and left at the funeral home. Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton is assisting the family with arrangements.