Jay Rawson
Jerseyville |
Jay Robert Rawson, 33, went to be with his Lord and Heavenly Father Monday, August 11, 2014, at 10:54 p.m. after a two year courageous fight with brain cancer.
Jay was born on November 27, 1980 in Alton, Illinois, the first child born to Robert and Gayle (Gillespie) Rawson. Jay attended St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic Schools and graduated from Jersey Community High School in 1999. Prior to the start of his battle with cancer, Jay was a dedicated employee at Hansen Trucking – he fought through many tumor related headaches to be at work and worked until just a few days prior to his first brain surgery. Jay had many close friends whom he loved to spend time with. His time was spent boating, skiing, and any activity on the water; he loved taking trips to the Ozarks anytime of the year; and any activity to help family and friends – from mowing yards to pulling a stuck truck out of the mud.
Jay is survived by his loving wife, Renee Rawson of Jerseyville, his stepdaughter Jeryn Daniels at home, his father and mother Robert and Gayle (Gillespie) Rawson of Godfrey, a younger brother Ryan Rawson and his fiancée Kiley Bergbower of Godfrey, his paternal grandmother Ruth Rawson of Alton, his Godmother and Aunt Karen Fessler of Dow, Uncle Pat (Joan) Gillespie of Canton, Ohio, Aunt Ann Symons of Alton, Uncle Roger (Carol) Rawson of Holiday Shores, along with many cousins, and close friends.
Jay was preceded in death by both his maternal grandfather and grandmother Charles and Elizabeth (Funk) Gillespie and his paternal grandfather Roland Rawson; his Godfather and Uncle Paul Fessler; and a close friend Kyle Vanausdoll.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 13 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home, 1308 State Highway 109, in Jerseyville. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 306 N. Washington St, Jerseyville, IL, with Father William Hembrow officiating. Burial will immediately follow at St. Michaels Cemetery in Beltrees.
A luncheon will be served to honor Jay at the Knights of Columbus in Jerseyville immediately following the burial.
In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials may be given to the Salvation Army Food Pantry, Masses or a charity of one’s choice in care of Crawford Funeral Home.
Crawford Funeral Home
