Claude N Mays Jr

Mr. Claude Nelson Mays, Jr., 94, retired from Union Carbide and resident of Galloway Street, died Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Graveside services will be conducted Friday at 1:00 p.m. at Polk Memorial Gardens with Rev. Calvin Lunn officiating. Military honors will be provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4 - 7:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials to Maury County Gun Club for Skeet Shooting, P.O. Box 283, Columbia, TN 38402. Condolences may be offered online at www.oakesandnichols.com. A native of Decatur County, Tennessee he was the son of the late Claude Nelson Mays, Sr. and Gertrude Altom Mays and attended Maury County schools. On May 10, 1948 he married Helen Reba Thornton Mays who preceded him in death May 8, 2010. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, earning a Bronze Star. Mr. Mays was an avid skeet shooter. He was a member of the Maury County Gun Club and enjoyed quail hunting, fishing and raising bird dogs. He was a member of Highland Park Baptist Church. Survivors include his daughter, Sheila K. (Chris) Harris of Knoxville; brother, Bobby Mays of Columbia; and three nephews, Mike (Ann) Mays of Memphis, David (Lynn) Mays and Eddie (Mary Sue) Dalton both of Columbia. He was preceded in death by a nephew, Ronnie Mays. Active pallbearers will be Chris Harris, Eddie Dalton, Mike Mays, David Mays, Todd Dalton, and Thomas Mobley. Honorary pallbearers include members of the Maury County Gun Club. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to his caregivers, Hilda Hunnicutt, Cheryl Roberts, Tracy Dale and Kim Parsons.