James “Jim” LeRoy Mays, 88, of Mount Vernon, Illinois, passed away at 2:00 pm January 21, 2025 at his residence in Mount Vernon, Illinois. He was born December 18, 1936 in Mount Vernon, Illinois to the late Dallas Riley and Gladys Pauline (Hogan) Mays. Jim married Janet Lavada (Reed) Mays on February 4, 1961 in Mount Vernon, Illinois.
In addition to his beloved wife of nearly sixty-four years, Jim is survived by his son, Jeffery Lee Mays and wife, Shari of Mount Zion, Illinois; daughter, Jill Leann Barnfield and husband, Barry of Fairfield, Illinois; grandchildren, Nicklas Mays and wife, Andrea, Lucas Mays and girlfriend, Rowan Cullen, James Moore and wife, Kelley, Joshua Flota and wife, Sabrina, Jessica Berghaus and husband, Brandon, and Emily Barnfield; great-grandchildren, Olivia and Rhett Mays and Ben and Alex Berghaus; sister, Jean Burns of Olathe, Kansas; sisters-in-law, Debbie Sargent, Phyllis Lockhart, Linda Swinter and husband, Jerry, and Shelia Plemons and husband, Kelvin, and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his brothers, Dallas Ray Mays and Ronnie Dale Mays; sister, Elsie Lureva Gockel; brothers-in-law, Charles Reed and Barry Reed; sister-in-law, Ellen Peacock; and mother and father-in-law, Fred and Tempa Reed.
Mr. Mays proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corp from 1955 to 1958. Jim was a member of Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church. He was a Lifetime Founder member of the Gold Wing Touring Association, and belonged to the United Food and Commercial Workers for thirty-eight years. Throughout his career, Jim worked as a meat cutter at Bracy Food Store in Mount Vernon, Honiotes Brothers in Joliet, Illinois, SuperValue in Mount Vernon, Illinois, and Mad Pricer in Salem, Illinois. Jim and Janet enjoyed motorcycling, camping, and spending time with their family, especially their grandchildren.
A Visitation will be held Monday, January 27, 2024 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Funeral Service will begin at 1:00 pm with Reverend Travis Hayes officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens in Woodlawn, Illinois. Memorials may be made in Jim’s honor to Family Life Center Homeless Shelter in Mount Vernon, Illinois.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.