"Jody" Philip G. Mayo

    "Jody" Philip George Mayo, Jr. 61, of Belmond, IA, died, Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond, surrounded by his loving family following several health issues. 

    Public funeral services will be Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 11 AM at the Belmond United Methodist Church, 1031 1st Street S.E., Belmond, IA.  Pastor Lauren Banza and Rev. Leila Blackburn will be officiating.  Burial will be in the Belmond cemetery. Public visitation will be Friday at the church from 4:30-7:30 PM and will continue one-hour prior to the funeral on Saturday. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Jody's name may wish to consider direct them to his family or to the donor's choice. The funeral service will be live streamed on both the Andrews Funeral Home Facebook page and the Belmond United Methodist Church Facebook page for those who may be unable to attend in person. Just LIKE either page to view.

        Philip George Mayo, Jr. (Jody), the son of Philip George Mayo, Sr. and Cynthia Kay Baker, on November 23, 1963, on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, the day after the assassination of President JFK.   A short few weeks after he was brought into the world he was blessed with the sacrament of baptism on January 12, 1964, by the Rev. George H. Fitzgerald at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, Roanoke, VA.  For a time, he lived with his mom and dad on the base and eventually they established a residence just off the base.   Following his dad's military tenure and honorable discharge from the Air Force, the family moved around the United States with the various transfers that were required with the job Philip, Sr. had as a purchasing agent for United Engineers & Raytheon.  During these moves and new residences, the family expanded, and Jody was joined by his brothers John and Eric.  The family had lived in various places besides Delaware including Waldorf, MD, Erie, ILL., Roanoke, VA, Smith Mountain Lake, VA, Washington State, Mechanicsville, VA, and eventually settled in Belmond, IA, at various different times for each member. 

        During their years in Washington state, Jody attended Columbia High School in Richland, WA, where he graduated in the class of 1982.  While in high school he played both tackle and center on the high school football team and left and centerfield on the baseball team.  His lifelong love for baseball commenced during these years and he became an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves and an avid Washinton Redskins fan as well.   Jody, his brothers, John and Eric, his parents, grandparents and other family and friends did a lot of camping, traveling, exploring and spending times in the outdoors during their growing up years.  This is likely where Jody's immense love for the outdoors and nature evolved from.

      Jody was united in marriage to Jacqueline Jim Mahoney, on June 9, 1984, in Richland, WA.  Their union was blessed with a daughter Nichole and son Andrew. When Nichole was a young child Jody was employed at Cattleman's Steak and Provisions Supper Club in Belmond.  Their marriage wasn't permanent and concluded after about nine years.  He was later united in marriage to Lisa Peterson after he moved to Iowa to be near his family the couple married December 31, 2001, at the Klemme House Bed and Breakfast in Belmond. They were blessed with a son Corbin.  After many years their marriage came to an end and the couple went in different life directions.

      Jody had worked in various career fields after graduation and shared a unique relationship in many of these jobs as he had worked with each of his brothers along the way.  Initially he and brother John were employed at a McDonald's in Richmond, VA.  He had worked for a period of time as a bartender and bar bouncer.  The boys had also worked alongside dad, Phil, Sr. as part of the family Mayo and Sons Construction Co.  Upon moving to Iowa Jody couldn't wait to farm with his grandfather, J. Harold Baker and eventually alongside his brothers in the farming operations.  He relished the many years they farmed together.  In addition to farming after moving to Iowa, Jody, John and Eric and friend, Todd Smith were employed by North Central Human Services doing building maintenance, remodel work and repairs.  The three brothers also built decks and did other construction work together and he and brother John did remodeling and housing construction in Belmond and surrounding areas.  During this time of employment with NCHS, Jody was in a motorcycle accident that took a while to recover from and likely later on in the years affected and or created some of his health issues.  He eventually joined his dad, mom and brothers as part of Belmond Building Supply Lumber Company and then expanded it to include firearms and hunting and fishing supplies and other sundry sporting goods. Additionally, Jody drove semi's for 15 years for Brian and Michelle Harle Trucking Co. out of Kanawha, IA.  With this addition of the sporting goods and firearms to the business the family generously supported many different causes with Jody leading the charge!  For more than two decades Jody provided countless hours of time and resources as the Federal Firearms License provider to Pheasants Forever Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation and other events.  His generosity and efforts along with sponsoring and contributions to these groups was an integral part of them each raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to preserve, enhance and restore habitats for wildlife, recreation, and the environment.  He was proud of his involvement in each one.  Jody loved anything related to hunting and fishing activities and or apparel.  He was always trying out the latest hunting or fishing equipment and clothing and anyone who knew him, knew he was the king of Under Armor.  He loved to collect and shoot guns and had a great collection of Buck knives, decoys, prints, and taxidermy mounts.   

      His brothers, kids, and recently grand kids and buddies have many great memories and stories of countless outdoors adventures with Jody.  The three brothers looked forward to crisp fall mornings and winter treks through switch grass, corn fields and other habitat behind one of his Brittany's Willy or Abbie as they awaited the rush created by the flushing and cackle of rooster pheasants.  He relished the chance to go trout fishing both in Yellowstone and in Eastern Iowa and in recent times had introduced the next generations of his family to this past time.  Jody loved those spring mornings in the woods as the forest floor came back to life from the long winter as he patiently waited with excitement for the thunderous gobble of a wild Tom turkey, as well as those frosty, chilly mornings sitting in a tree stand with gun or bow watching for the flickering tail or shiny reflections of a buck deer as it snuck towards him threw the timber. 

      Jody truly loved life on the farm and had built a wonderful home on the acreage that was a part of it.  He loved a wide variety and raised large flower beds and vegetable gardens.  His absolute favorites were his lilies, stargazers, and hostas.  His family remembers his love for canning sweet corn and other produce.  His family reflects fondly upon the many years of farming together and the delicious field lunches and snacks that grandma and later mom Cindy would deliver to them.  This gathering of food continued during many years at the Building Supply Co. where they would all get together for lunch time which at times also included friends.  

      Other great memories of times with Jody were shared in attendance at the football games of his favorite Iowa Hawkeyes, one of which was cut short by lightening that Jason, Trenton and Gunner had went to.  Family camping outings, or truly any happening or activity that meant the family was together.  Jody loved to support his kids in grandkids in their various activities and was so looking forward to cheering for the up-and-coming grandchildren he so dearly loved.  He looked forward to playing cards and in more recent times loved to spend precious times playing his favorite 5-Crowns card game and others with mom Cyndy.  Trips to Osh Kosh to the Air Show, travels to Okoboji, and Waukon were also favorite get aways. Mount Ranier was also one if his fondest destinations and over the years downhill going on skiing excursions.  Memories of crossing the paths of scorpions and rattle snakes while spending times with Jody in the Northwest also popped into these reflections. 

      Jody had a lifelong faith journey which he truly relished even in the ups and downs along the way.  He was active in the Belmond United Methodist Church over the years as an usher and very much looked for to being a part of many Walks For Emmaus and the work that was often performed as part of this occasion.  Over the last decade of his life Jody and his companion Kim Ausborn enjoyed times together visiting Galena, ILL, various wineries and looked forward to travels to a Jody favorite! South Dakota.  She was also in part a caregiver in recent times with his health decline.

     Some final reflections from his children and other family on the life and times of Jody!  all of which he and they would likely agree upon--He was a loving dad, not the perfect dad! But was the perfect dad for Nichole, Andrew and Corbin!. He always seemed to bring an adventure to the day no matter what the occasion, work or play!  A friend shared the Jody was a "Personality" that somehow drew and attracted others to him friend or acquaintance.  He truly loved life and often times took it to the limit.

     His memory will live on in the lives of his daughter Nichole (Jason) Meyer, and their son Gunner, Belmond, IA and sons Trenton and Vincent;, son Andrew (Stephanie) Mayo, Mason City, IA and their children Isabella, Kari, and Henley, Mason City, IA, and son Corbin Mayo of West Des Moines, IA, and his son Beckett.  Jody's mother Cindy Mayo, Belmond, IA; brother John Mayo (Michelle) Belmond, IA and their children Greg (Alyson) Collins and Ashlyn (Keith) Onley II and families; Eric (Christine) Mayo, Belmond, IA and their daughter Victoria, Mason City, IA;  Uncle and Aunt Richard “Dick” Mayo and wife Sara Page, Keswick, Virginia, numerous cousins, aunts, and uncles and other extended family and friends.

     He was preceded in death by his father Philip George Mayo, Sr. Sept. 27, 2018, his maternal grandparents J. Harold and Lydia Baker, paternal grandparents P.B and Eloise Mayo, great grandparents Guy and Mildred Baker and Otto F. and Katie (Blau) Ostendorf.

http://www.andrewsfuneralhomeandfloral.com 641-444-4474.