John R. Havey Jr.

John R. Havey was truly one of the kindest, most intelligent men you could ever meet. He was brilliant, but also very humble. He had a way of making each person feel special and was always putting a smile on everyone’s face with his humor and wit. One of the biggest testaments to John’s character can be seen through the qualities in his children and grandchildren. There is no question that they inherited his compassionate and loving heart. John Havey never liked to be the center of attention. In life and now in death, he wouldn’t want us to focus on him. He wouldn’t want us to focus on the sadness of his death, but instead focus on the happiness in our lives.

John graduated from St. Louis University High in 1955, went on to attend Parks College until 1958, and then received a master’s degree in Aeronautical engineering from Iowa State. He married the love of his life Rosemary Craig in 1959 and worked at Convair in San Diego, CA after graduate school. He then moved back to St. Louis in 1961 to start at McDonnell Douglas and retired after 35 years in 1996. From an early age, John loved anything to do with airplanes and built model planes as a passion. For 58 years he was a most loving husband to Rosemary and a devoted father of their 4 children.

He was the dearest father of Doris (Jon) Clement, Donald (Susan) Havey, Susan (Doug) DeBellis, John Patrick Havey; loving Papa of Michelle (Michael) Kerr, Steven Clement, Melissa (Samuel Crocker, fiancé) Clement, David Clement, Nichole (Matthew) Helton, Christine (Luke) Mraz, Rachael Havey, Cara DeBellis, Maria DeBellis, and Anthony DeBellis; Great Papa of Charlotte and Elizabeth Kerr, Emma and Isabel Helton, and Carson and Liam Mraz.  He was the dearest brother of Micki (Patricia Havey) Boswell and beloved uncle to John (Pam) Weldon, Jerry (Gabriella) Weldon, Joe (Rebecca) Weldon, and Jim (Molly) Weldon.

John loved all kinds of sports from handball and tennis to skiing and hockey. His passion the last 25 years was playing golf, where he was Rosemary’s favorite partner on the course. John spent many enjoyable days playing golf with friends at Whitmoor, Hilton Head, and Florida. As an avid Blues and Cardinals fan, he loved to watch the games with his family. In 1975 John and Rosie made a marriage encounter weekend and continued to work in the ministry for 30 years. God has blessed John with a full and enriched life of family, friends, travel, sports, and dancing.   

A man as humble and loving as John will always be remembered by those of us who knew him and loved him. Although we will miss him, his smile, his pranks, his love, we take consolation in the good feelings of our memories. May John now be free from any physical limitations and be the “dancing bear” we all know and love.

The funeral mass will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1355 Motherhead Road, Cottleville, MO, 63304, at 10 o’clock on Friday, September 15, 2017. Visitation will be at 9 o’clock with lunch reception to follow mass. Reception will be at 5701 Highway N, Cottleville, 63304. In lieu of flowers, masses would be appreciated or donations to the American Heart Association/American Parkinson Disease Association.