Jack Orville McElwain

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Jack Orville McElwain, 82, Nevada, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, at Christian Health Care in Nevada. He was born June 26, 1929, in Garland, Kan., to Miles Orville McElwain and Alta (Banghart) McElwain. He married Pat Crawford on May 3, 1953, and she survives of the home.

Jack attended school in Nevada and graduated from high school in 1947. After graduation, he went to Warrensburg College for a year and a half. He then joined the Army and served in the Korean War. After returning from his military service, he went to work for Missouri Public Service and was there for 42 years until his retirement. He was a member of the First Christian Church, Nevada.

Survivors in addition to his wife, Pat, include one daughter, Kelli Schapeler and her husband, Donald, Rockville, Mo.; one son, Robert McElwain and his wife, Diana, Nevada; one sister, Alberta Lacy, Rich Hill, Mo.; one half-brother, Steve Howell and his wife, Laurel, of North Carolina; mother-in-law, Grace Crawford, of Nevada; one sister-in-law, Carol Duncan, of Nevada; two brothers-in-law, Charles Crawford and his wife, Joyce, Lee's Summit, Mo., and Raymond Crawford, Nevada; three granddaughters, Amelia Murphy, Katrina Rich and Rachel Dickerson; three stepgrandchildren, Dixie Brooks, Bill McFarlane and Jared McFarlane; three great-grandchildren, Duff, Fox and Pace Murphy (who were the absolute joy of Grandpa Jack's last years); 10 stepgrandchildren, Ashley Purvis, Brittany, Jonathan and Zachery Brooks, Joshua, Mysti and Matthew McFarlane, Jacen, Mikayla, and Amber Collins; one stepgreat-great-granddaughter, Addyson Purvis; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Barbara Crabb.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 6, at the First Baptist Church, Nevada, with Dr. William Cox officiating. The family will receive friends from 9-10 a.m., at the church prior to the service. Interment will follow in Moore Cemetery, Nevada. Friends may call now and until 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

Those who wish may contribute in his memory, to the Heartland Hospice or the American Cancer Society in care of Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com