Eldon Mays

WOOD RIVER - Eldon Mays, 91, of Wood River died Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, at Tiffany Square Care Center in Grand Island. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Wood River, with the the Rev. Theresa Mason officiating. Burial will be in Wood River Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Apfel Funeral Home in Wood River. Eldon Mays was born March 3, 1921, at Cora, Kan., the son of Jay C. and Gladys M. (Cameron) Mays. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Glenn E. and Jerre Mays, and a daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn J. and Dale Gewecke, all of Hastings; and one sister and brother-in-law, Wanda and Richard Langer of Guide Rock. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Greg and Ann Mays, Tren Mays, and Tate Mays, all of Hastings, and Amy and Chris Kreutz of Grand Island; eight great-grandchildren, Zoe, Ryder, Emma and Hayden Grace Mayes, Mason and Nathan Goatee, Morgan Gewecke and friend Riley Joyce, Tavish Gewecke, and Derian Gewecke-Kreutz; two great-great grandchildren, Parker and Piper Joyce; and a sister-in-law, Toni Mays of Hastings; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Mays attended school in Cora until the age of 13, when the family moved to the Shelton and Wood River area. He graduated from Shelton High School with the class of 1938. He entered the U.S. Army on Jan. 30, 1943, from San Diego, Calif., serving in England, France and Germany during World War II. He received his honorable discharge on Dec. 8, 1945, from Camp Chaffee, Ark. He was united in marriage to Marjorie Slack on Sept. 5, 1946, at Grand Island. The couple lived in Wood River, where he was employed by Platte Valley Propane for 31 years as a driver. He retired in 1987. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Wood River where he was a past member of the finance board. He was a member of V.F.W. He enjoyed gardening, especially raising tomatoes, and yard work. He was an avid Cornhusker fan. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marjorie, in 2009; his brother, Robert Mays; a sister and brother-in-law, Opal Jean and Maurice Paulk; and an infant sister. Memorials are suggested to the church.