Tom Jaynes

Charles (Tom) Jaynes, 82, of Saint Joseph, Missouri, passed away peacefully at his home on July 4, 2025, with his family at his side.

Tom was born on March 17, 1943 in Fort Worth, Texas to Thomas H. Jaynes and Jessie I. (Meers) Jaynes. He was a devoted husband to Sophie for almost 58 years, and loving father to Tommy and Brian.

Tom married Sophie at the former St. Stanislaus Church in St. Joseph, on October 12, 1968. He converted to Catholicism prior to the wedding, and together Tom and Sophie have been devoted members of St. Joseph’s Cathedral for almost six decades. Tom was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 5067, and a 4 th Degree Knight with Council 569.

Tom retired from American Airlines after working for Trans World Airlines for over four decades. He was a crew chief in the overhaul base at Kansas City International Airport.

Tom was a lifelong member and union steward of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Tom was also a veteran, having served briefly in the Navy, then the Air Force for several years before becoming a member of the Air National Guard at Rosecrans Air Base in St. Joseph. He retired from the military after serving over two decades, including tours in Vietnam. He achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant, and was a member of the Air Force Sergeant's Association.

Tom became a Scout Leader in the Boy Scouts of America in 1983. He was very involved in Scouting and the Pony Express Council until his health required him to step away in 2018. He served as Cubmaster of Pack 47 at Cathedral of St. Joseph, and later in multiple roles for Troop 47 including Committee Chair for many years. Tom was very involved in the Catholic Committee for Scouting, and played a large role in raising funds for, and helping to build the chapel at Camp Geiger in St. Joseph.

Tom started his career as a pilot, learning to fly crop dusters. Due to an injury, Tom became an aircraft mechanic so he could still work around aircraft. He loved all things mechanical, taking them apart and learning how they worked. Tom and his father together built a working helicopter, and both were lifelong model train enthusiasts. If it broke, Tom could fix it. And if he couldn’t, he kept it anyway.

Tom is survived by his wife Sophie, their children Tommy (Monica) and Brian, four grandchildren (Caleb, Madalyn, Logan and Sailor), his sister Mary (Bachmann), and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Tom’s memory to the American Heart Association, or the Boy Scouts of America Pony Express Council Friends of Scouting.

Parish Rosary will be Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel followed by visitation until 8:00 pm.  Memorial Mass will be Friday, July 18, 2025, at 11:00 am at The Cathedral of St. Joseph. Inurnment and military honors will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery.