Jay McConnell

Jay W. McConnell, Owner and President of Jay McConnell Construction, Inc. was born December 23, 1935 in Kansas City, Mo. He was a life-long Kansas City area resident, graduating from Northeast High School in 1953 and attending Kansas City Jr. College at nights while starting his business career. Jay went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 19, 2018, at the Kansas City Hospice House after a long and determined battle with cancer. Jay enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1953 and served eight years, discharged as a Chief Petty Officer. Jay began his construction career in 1953 with W.S. Dickey Clay Manufacturing Co. as a Sales Engineer. For a short time he sold real estate for Dewitt Real Estate. He worked as a division manager for Dierks Lumber Co. In 1976 he began working with Keith Weber, forming A. Keith Weber and Associates which later became Midland Properties in 1978 where he served as Sr. VP as well as President of Midland Housing and President of Midland Property Management. In 1989 he founded Jay McConnell Construction Services, changing the name to Jay McConnell Construction, Inc. in 1993. His client list included Grand American Hotel Management, Fleming Foods, Westlake Hardware, Jose Peppers Restaurants, and many HUD Projects. He was most proud of the Projects that he built for the severely handicapped, the chronically mentally ill, and senior citizens, always saying, “That as a nation and good citizens we MUST provide for those who cannot provide for themselves. That all individuals need a good place to live.” Jay was involved in over 300 projects in his career ranging from condos at Castle Pines, Colo. and Leawood Falls in Overland Park, Ks. to restaurants, grocery and hardware stores, hotels including the Holiday Inn and Suites in Overland Park, remodel of The Raphael Hotel, Country Club Plaza and over 7,000 apartment units. JMC, Inc. built many residential buildings for the Ozark Center in Joplin, Mo. taking a crew of construction workers the next morning to Joplin to start repairs after the 2011 tornado. He built handicapped apartments for Dorgan Weaver and Combs Redfern Housing Corps. in Branson, Mo., Kinbrook Apts. In Grandview, Mo. and an 8Plex for Mosaic of NE Kansas, in Kansas City, Ks. and many Senior Living Complexes. Since 1989 JMC, Inc. has been responsible for new builds and remodels totaling over 60 million dollars.  Jay is survived by his children Vickie Partridge (Pete) of Tampa, Fl., Mark McConnell (Christine Aaron) of Anna Marie Fl., Rick McConnell (Jean) of Overland Park, Julie Lozano, Plano, Tx. and Melissa Hammer (Brian) of Dallas, Tx. Brothers Mike Hampton (JoAnn), Robin Moehlman (Brenda), Sister Bunny Lowry (Jim), 14 grandchildren, 1 great-grand daughter and 1 great grandson to come, many nieces and nephews, and longtime champion, his dog, Hope. Jay was a devoted Christian, who referred to Jesus Christ as his “Best Friend”. He took great comfort in reading his Bible and learning from the words he read. The family wishes to give special thanks to the staff at University of Kansas Medical Center and the University of Kansas Cancer Center, for the care that Jay received during his illness with a SPECIAL thank you to ER nurse, Joan and Unit 42 nurse Bethany, who both went above and beyond to care for Jay. Visitation will be from 5-7pm Thursday, January 25th at the Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Ks. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30pm Friday, January 26th at the Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, Ks. Private family burial. In lieu of flowers the family suggest donations to The University of Kansas Medical Center, in care of Fund Development, University of Kansas Health System, 2330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite 305 Westwood Ks. 66205, or The Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO.