Blakeslee Jaynes

Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Blakeslee "Duane" Jaynes, 75 passed away in his home in rural Thayer, KS Thursday January 12th 2017.
A celebration of his life will be at 10 AM January 27, 2017 at Bethel Church of Neodesha followed by burial at Star Cemetery under the direction of Loran Fawcett Chapel of Neodesha, KS. A dinner for all will follow the burial at Bethel Church.
Duane was born June 14, 1941 at his current home in rural Thayer, KS. He was the son of Orin Blakeslee and Lillie Mae (Kilgore) Jaynes. Duane attended Maple Grove school and Thayer High School and graduated in 1959. Following high school he attended Pittsburg State College until enlisting into the United States Army in 1961. He completed basic training at Ft. Carson, CO. While enlisted he was stationed in Fort Campbell, KY, Fort Sill, OK, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MA and Fort Hood, TX. He also served two tours in Germany, two tours in Vietnam and one tour in Korea. Duane achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was selected to attend Warrant Officer School. In 1967 Duane was commissioned as a W1 Warrant Officer. In 1978 Duane earned a degree from Central Texas College. In 1982 Duane retired from the United States Army as a CW4 (Chief Warrant Officer 4) and spent the remainder of his life on the family farm raising crops, hogs, cattle, children and grandchildren. Duane served on Wilson County Rural water District 10 board, Wilson County Rural Fire, Star Cemetery and Newark Township board. He was also a lifetime member of the VFW and honorary member of the FFA.
During his first tour in Germany Duane met a girl from a cattle ranch in Montana who was working for the Army. On September 18, 1965 Duane was united in marriage to Anne Marie Diekhans in Nellingen, Germany. They were married for 42 years until Anne's passing on January 18, 2008. Duane was united in marriage again to a fellow 1959 Flyer graduate, on September 10, 2012 to Cheryl Darlene Umbarger. Cheryl passed away on July 22, 2016.
Duane is preceded in death by his parents, a sister (Betty Darlene Welshear), and two wives.
Survivors include: a sister Marilyn Featherstun and her husband Butch Wilhelm of Eustace, TX. a daughter, Kathy Heater of Thayer, KS, a son, Brian Jaynes and his wife Jane of Thayer, KS , four Grandchildren, Vance Ritz and wife Maegan, Katelyn Cavaness and husband Benton, Kelsi Jaynes and Bayler Jaynes, two Great Grandsons, Levi Ritz and Zane Cavaness, as well as several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Memorials can be made in Duane's name to Wounded Warriors at Loran Fawcett Chapel, and online condolences to the family can be left at www.loranfawcettfuneralhome.com

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