Carol Jean Mays (Austin)

Carol Jean Mays passed away on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. She was born in Independence, MO on July 16, 1933, to Walter Harold Austin and Ina Melton Austin. Carol Jean was an only child and had many fond memories of family gatherings, dinners, and trips. She was a graduate of East High School where she was very involved in art and drama and had the lead in “Our Miss Brooks”. She excelled in oration, which served her well in later years as a guest speaker and politician. She attended Baker University, where she enjoyed the sisterhood of Alpha Chi Omega. Carol Jean met Ronald Mays at Bristol Teen Town where they would dance the night away. They were married and Carol Jean joined Ronny while he was stationed at Camp Pendleton in southern California.

Family was very important to her, and Ronny and Carol Jean made sure their children, Terri, Melanie, and Hugh always had music, dance, and art lessons. Carol Jean would coach a girls basketball team or lead Cub Scout meetings or cheer on the Falcons as a Van Horn Booster. She would sew costumes for school productions and recitals. Carol and Ronny had an open invitation to their kids’ friends to come over for chips and dip and were always up for hosting impromptu gatherings for the Sunday School class they taught or a Van Horn cast party. They listened, advised, and offered a safe haven, especially to the young men facing the Viet Nam draft. Carol Jean was a “modern mom”, ahead of her time when it came to encouraging her children’s interests and talents. She served as PTA President for Pitcher Elementary School. She helped to reorganize the Pitcher Library and volunteered as a Picture Lady, introducing the great masters to school age children in their classrooms. Carol Jean helped organize many a Pitcher Elementary Carnival and served as Room Mother, baking her share of cookies and cupcakes for school parties. In her earlier years, Carol Jean worked as a proofreader for the Inter-City News. She became a home maker while her children were young. When she returned to the workforce, Carol Jean became a school secretary and worked for years at Stark, Kensington, and finally, found herself back at Pitcher Elementary.

When the opportunity arose, Carol and Ronny bought Jerry’s Restaurant located in Fairmount. They made improvements adding a lounge and banquet hall. Carol Jean was offered the opportunity to run as a State Representative where she represented the people of District 52 and later District 50 between the years of 1988 and 2002. During that time, she served as Chairman of the Consumer Protection Committee and the Utility Regulation Committee. She also served as Vice Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and the Commerce Committee. Other committees of note were Children, Youth and Families, and Education Appropriations. She made a difference championing the cause of mid-wives. She held Town Halls at Jerry’s Restaurant. Carol Jean served on the Board of the Northwest Communities Development Corporation, Board of the Fairmount Plaza Senior Apartments, and Greater KC Women’s Political Caucus. She also served as President of MU Extension Council and was President of the Northern Boulevard United Methodist Women where she was a lifelong member.

Carol Jean had a beautiful smile. She was warm, charming, witty, and funny. She was known for her delicious pies, especially Ronny’s favorite, lemon meringue. She was unflappable, persevering, always rolling with the punches. While they were living in California, Ronny woke to an earthquake, the bed bouncing up and down. He said, “Carol, there’s an earthquake!” She replied without opening her eyes, “They have them out here all the time.” When Ronny passed away in 2002, she said “I’ve lost my dance partner.” She was always proud of her children and grandchildren. Carol Jean is preceded in death by her father Walter Harold Austin; her mother Ina Melton Austin; her husband Ronald Hugh Mays; and her son-in-law Dennis Mayeaux. She is survived by her daughters Terri Mayeaux and Melanie Mays (Todd); her son Hugh Mays; her granddaughter Jessica Mayeaux; and her great-grandson Clarke Harold Mayeaux.

A visitation to honor Carol will be held on Tuesday, December 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with a funeral service to follow, at 1:00 p.m., both at Carson-Speaks Chapel, 1501 W. Lexington Ave., in Independence, MO. The service will be livestreamed via Speaks Chapels page for those who would like to virtually attend Carol’s service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to be made to the American Alzheimer’s Association. She will be laid to rest at Mt. Washington Cemetery in Independence, MO.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel (816) 252-7900).