John D. Jay

John D. Jay, 77, of Mahomet, died at 4:30am on December 12, 2019 at Accolade Healthcare of Paxton.  There will be a visitation from 9:00-12:00 on Monday, Dec. 16 at Grace Church (800 W. Oak St.) in Mahomet, with the funeral service immediately following at 12:00.  Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Mahomet.  

John was born on June 11, 1942 in Champaign, a son of John and Grace (Scales) Jay.  He married Dorothy Munds in 1961 and were married for 29 1/2 years.  He later married Connie 'Sunny' (Curry) Barnhart on October 22, 1996.  She survives and resides in Mahomet.

Other survivors include: three sons and one daughter; Bill (Jill) Jay of Seymour, John (Lorie) Jay of Champaign, Clay (Amy) Barnhart of Mahomet, Angie (Mark) Bundy of Monticello; 18 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; three sisters and one brother, Beth (Al) Barnes of Paxton, Ann Rollins of Mahomet, Ralph Jay of Gibson City, Ruth Jay of Champaign.

He is preceded in death by one brother, Gale and one brother-in-law, Don Deem.

John graduated from Champaign High School in 1960, where he was active in FFA and started his own farm at the age of 17.  He was a member of the Champaign County Farm Bureau and served on both the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Champaign County Board.  He was also Farm Leader of the year in 2005.  John was always active in the community and joined Cornbelt Fire Department in 1971.  He rose through the ranks and became Fire Chief in 1981, earning retirement in 2011.  

Memorials may be sent to Cornbelt Fire Protection District in Mahomet.  

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