Harry Mays

Harry Clyde Mays of Iola, died Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at Windsor Place of Iola. He was born on August 8, 1920, in Greeley, KS, the son of Harry Warren Mays and Cora (Pratt) Mays. At age 14, he moved with his family to Garnett, KS. He attended Garnett High School and graduated in 1938. In 1940 he was employed by Douglas Aircraft in El Segundo, CA. In 1942 he was united in marriage to Claire Elizabeth Huggins in Garnett, KS. This union was blessed with two children, Clyde, Jr. and Judith Elaine. Clyde and Claire made their home in Santa Monica, CA until he joined the U.S. Army during World War II. He served with the 99th Infantry Division in Rhineland Central Europe in the Battle of the Bulge. In 1946 he and his family made their home in Moran, KS where he was employed by Mack C. Colt as a rotary driller. He was a member of the Moran First Christian Church and was an active member and Post Commander of the American Legion Jones-Hardy Post. In 1962 he and his family moved to Iola. After nearly forty years with Mack C. Colt he retired in 1985 and moved to Garnett. He was an active member of the V.F.W. and a lifetime member of the American Legion Fuller-Thompson Post. In 1999 he returned to Iola. He attended the Calvary United Methodist Church. He enjoyed helping with meals-on-wheels at the Senior Citizens Center, playing cards in the afternoons and at the Senior Citizens Card Club on Friday nights. He especially enjoyed dancing at all of the senior citizens dances until his health failed. He is survived by his wife, Claire of 67 years, his daughter Judi Mays of Iola and his granddaughter Jennifer Mays of Gainesville, FL. Preceding him in death were his father, mother, sister Gayle Swanton, brother C.E. "Buss" Stanley, and his son, Clyde, Jr. Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 13 at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel in Iola. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Lloyd Houk officiating. Burial will be in the Garnett Cemetery with military honors. Memorials are suggested to the Iola Alzheimer's support group and may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangments. Online condolences for the family may be left on this website.