A Celebration of Life was held Saturday, July 27, 2019, at the Tarkio Presbyterian Church in Tarkio, Missouri, for R. Jack Mehaffey. Interment was held at Home Cemetery in Tarkio. Reverend Will Ratcliff and Reverend Mark Potter officiated. Services were under the direction of Davis Funeral Home in Tarkio.
Jack, the son of Harold S. and Ruth N. (Scott) Mehaffey, was born February 27, 1922, in North Bend, Nebraska. He graduated from North Bend High School in 1940 and entered Tarkio College, Tarkio. While attending Tarkio College, he played basketball for three years and sang with the Tarkio College Men’s Quartet under the direction of Veva Ballengee.
On September 3, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. He was called to active duty in February 1943 and graduated from Communications School at Yale University, Hartford, Connecticut, as a Second Lieutenant. He then attended school for cryptography at Scott Air Base, Champaign, Illinois, in 1945, and was sent to New Guinea and the Philippines in the South Pacific Theatre with the 141st Army Airways Communication System Squadron, Detachment 54, of the 5th Army Air Corps. In July of 1946, Jack returned from the Philippines and was released from active duty on August 7, 1946, as First Lieutenant. He then completed his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Tarkio College graduating in 1947.
On March 15, 1945, Jack was united in marriage to Nancy May Smith. They became the parents of three daughters, Linda Ann, Susan Kay, and Karen May. Jack and Nancy lived and farmed in the North Bend, Nebraska, and Tarkio areas. They later divorced. Nancy passed away in 1987.
In January 1976, Jack married Geraldine “Geri” Raymer. He continued farming and managing his farming operations. Geri passed away December 23, 2007. Jack was an active member of the Tarkio Presbyterian Church where he served as elder and Sunday School superintendent. Civic responsibilities were important to Jack as he served in many organizations during his lifetime. He was a member of the Allen-Schiffern American Legion Post #199, Tarkio, and former member and Past Master of the Masonic Lodge #119 A.F. & A.M. of North Bend, Nebraska. Jack enjoyed singing with the Pony Express Barbershop Chorus of St. Joseph and Noted Four Barbershop Quartet of Rock Port. Jack passed away Sunday, July 21, 2019, at Pleasant View Nursing Home, Rock Port, at the age of 97.
Besides his parents and wife, Geri, Jack was preceded in death by brother-in-law, Jim Arneal. Survivors include his three daughters, Linda and Dave Lee, Tarkio, Susan and Bill Slaughter, Fairfax, Missouri, and Karen and Steve Potter, Overland Park, Kansas; grandchildren, Kim (Mike) Coughlin, Darin Lee, Amy (Jim) Skillen, Brian (Becky) Slaughter, David (Julie) Potter, Mark (Emily) Potter, and Jonathan (Carolyn) Potter; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Maxine Arneal, Beatrice, Nebraska; nephew, Steve (Mary Le) Arneal, North Bend; niece, Janet (Tim) Johns, Ft. Collins, Colorado; and several great-nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Tarkio Presbyterian Church or Community Hospital-Fairfax, Fairfax, Missouri. Online condolences may be made at www.minterfuneralchapels.com.