Dorlas Hays Jr.

Dorlas I. "Buck" Hays Jr., 85 of Jackson passed away Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at his home.

He was born July 15, 1929, in Girard, Illinois, son of Dorlas Ibra and Jessie Mae Fitzgerald Hays Sr. He and Joyce Reba Smith were married Aug. 27, 1960, in Springfield, Illinois.

Buck was a 1947 graduate of Virden High School in Virden, Illinois. He was inducted into the United States Navy on Dec. 5, 1947, serving on the USS Consolation and was honorably discharged Sept. 15, 1952. He was a member of New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson for 30 years. He worked 33 years for the Natural Gas Pipeline of America as a measurement representative. Buck was a member of VFW Post 10495 and a charter member of Elks Lodge 2652 in Jackson.

Loving survivors include his wife of 54 years, Joyce; two sons, Doug (Kim) Hays of Cape Girardeau and Daryl (Kim) Hays of Mount Zion, Illinois; a daughter, Cindy (Gary) Beussink of Jackson; five grandchildren, Caleb, Tyler and Madison Beussink and Chris and Sarah Hays; a sister, Connie Jo Gardner of Herscher, Illinois; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. An Elks service will be at 7 p.m.

The funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Eddie Rhodes, Jimmie Corbin and David Israel officiating. Burial will be in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri, with full military honors.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Elks National Foundation Inc., New McKendree United Methodist Church or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.