Jesse "Jay" A. Garms

Jesse “Jay” Alford Garms of Steelville, Missouri passed away Sunday, May 29, 2022 at the age of 97 years, 10 months and 3 days. Jay was born July 26, 1924 in Oak Hill, Missouri to Henry and Essie Gates Garms.

Jay grew up in Oak Hill, MO and Kansas but eventually moved back to Missouri when he was in his early teens. When he was old enough Jay joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Salem. In 1944, his brother, Fred, told him he was going to join the Marines, so at that moment Jay knew he wanted to be in the Military also. He told his brother that if he would join the Navy they could join together and they did. The two brothers served on the USS Colorado and traveled to Guam and many other ports such as Saipan, Tinian, Leyte, Mindoro, Lingayian, Luzon and Okinawa throughout the Philippine Islands. Jay was one of the few who witnessed the surrender of the Japanese which was on the USS Missouri. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in December of 1945. Jay received many campaign medals along with other medals during his dedicated time in the Navy.

On December 1, 1946, Jay was united in marriage to Eloice Hewkin and to this union two daughters were born.

Throughout the years, Jay and Eloice owned Economy Shoes in Steelville, became a welder by trade in California employed by McDonnell Douglas and working on the Gemini Space craft. As so many do today, they were flipping houses while living in California during the 1950’s. They moved back to the local area and Jay sold cars for Jim’s Motors in Rolla and Jefferson City and later owned the 1 Stop & Shop grocery store in Steelville. His last big project was building an apartment complex in Sullivan. He was a man who couldn’t stay still and had a vision for something new.

For many years, Jay was a member of the Steelville First Assembly of God Church and other churches wherever he and his family lived. He and Eloice were active in a program for three years in building a foundation for street children in Camargo City, Mexico which provided Bible Study and nutritious meals.

Jay always had a smile and enjoyed being around others and especially his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Essie Garms; and four brothers, Fred (Hattie) Garms, Raymond Garms, Earl Garms and Larry Garms, sisters-in-law, Darlene Cape and Naomi (Walter) Boll; brothers-in-law, Jim Hewkin, Homer (Leora) Hewkin, Lenny (Carol) Hewkin, Buster (Vera) Hewkin, Donald (June) Hewkin and Rodney Hewkin.

He will be sadly missed by his two daughters, Lavona (Rick) Jordan of Creve Coeur, MO and Vicki (Rick) Adams of Sullivan, MO; five grandchildren, Eric (Sharon Menashe) Jordan, Rick Jordan, Jr., Rachelle (Rob) Appleberry, Christopher Jordan and Richard Aaron (Jamie) Adams; five great-grandchildren, Richard J. Jordan, R. J. Appleberry, Ashley Appleberry, Robby Appleberry and Aaron Geoffrey Adams; sisters-in-law, Ruthie Garms, Georgia Garms and Joyce Garms all of Steelville, MO, Coleen (Glen) Woolbright of Manchester, MO and Marilyn Hewkin of Cuba, MO; brother-in-law, Jim Cape of Cuba, MO; other relatives; and friends.

The Family received friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

Private Funeral Services for immediate family were held with Rev. Terry Mahurin officiating. Special music of "Amazing Grace", "Beulah Land" and "Hymn of Heaven" was played. Memories were shared by the family.

Committal prayer and interment were in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Steelville, MO.

Honored to be casket bearers were Eric Jordan, Rick Jordan, Jr., Rick Adams, Richard Jordan, Robby Appleberry and R.J. Appleberry with Christopher Jordan as Honorary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Missouri Veterans Home of St. James, MO or the Alzheimers Association c/o of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home.

The Garms Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO.

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