David A. Jennings

David Alfred “D.A.” Jennings, 78, of Mount Ayr, passed away Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at Clearview Home in Mount Ayr.

D.A. was born Jan. 28, 1946, to Clark “David” and Wilmina Jennings (née Wilkey) in Creston. He grew up with his younger sister Mary “Suzanne.” Being of a jovial nature, D.A. was a great tease and jokester. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with the Sand Creek guys who developed an abandoned cellar as their hideout.

After graduating Grand Valley High School in Kellerton, he married and was drafted into the Army, serving his country as a welder to repair helicopter skin in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Returning, he farmed north of Ellston with his father and was involved in the creation of Sun Valley Lake before having a son, Joel. He operated the lake marina and later the automobile service station in Ellston for several years.

Restless at heart, D.A. later worked in appliance repair, built and remodeled homes and had several other professional interests in Missouri and Florida. Early on in his time in Missouri, he met his partner, Martha “Judy” Jervey, with whom he shared his laughter, his discouragements when they came and built his life.

Mechanically inclined, D.A. enjoyed working on cars and trucks and was a hobbyist carpenter and fabricator; including developing methods to make his own diesel fuel from locally harvested used cooking oils. He was a history buff (general, military, family), loved classic country music and had an abiding fondness for seafood. He was also a proud veteran and member of the Emmett Liles American Legion Post 541 of Ellston and Amvets Post 78 in Rockaway Beach, Missouri.

D.A. could be a larger-than-life character in temperament and sometimes hard to pin down. When measured and present, which he often was when it counted, his passion was a guiding, stabilizing force for his loved ones. His memory will be held dear.

He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Wilmina Jennings of Ellston; grandparents, Clark and Mary Jennings and Harold and Lula Wilkey and his partner, Judy Jervey of Branson West, Missouri.

He is survived by his son, Joel Jennings (Hannah Begley); grandsons, Casper and Torin Jennings of San Diego, California; sister, Mary Suzanne Adkisson (Dennis Adkisson) of Grand River; nieces, nephews and several great-nieces and -nephews.

Cremation has occurred and services will be held at a later date. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.