James Gorrell

James (Jay) L. Gorrell Jr., 74, of Smithville, MO, passed away Friday, December 11, 2015 at North Kansas City Hosptial. Jay was born on February 14, 1941, the son of James Sr. and Georgia Gorrell in Waukegan, Illinois. Jay graduated from Moberly High School in 1959. He enlisted in the US Navy, following in the footsteps of his father. Jay went to Medical Corp Training in San Diego, CA. He was sent to Vietnam with the 2nd and 5th Marine Divisions. Jay received two Purple Hearts. Jay married Mary Elizabeth Rychnovsky on August 12, 1967. From this union, they were blessed with two children, Anthony and Patricia. Jay retired from the US Navy in 1981 and was hired by the State of Missouri as a Facility Surveyor for Nursing Homes. On October 22, 1997, Mary passed away. Jay continued on and was blessed with two lovely granddaughters, Abigail Gorrell and Elizabeth Baughman. His granddaughters were truly “the apple of his eye.” On February 14, 2001 Jay married Robin Glenn and they were inseparable. They sailed boats, fished, traveled and became camp ground hosts. In a North Dakota campground, they were known as “the birds.” Jay is preceeded in death by Mary Gorrell, his wife; his parents, James Sr. and Georgia Gorrell; Mary’s parents, Adolph and Nellie Rychnovsky; brother-in-law, Frances Rychnovsky and father-in-law; L. D. Glenn. Jay is survived by Robin, his wife; Dorothy Glenn, mother-in-law; son, Anthony Gorrell and his wife Yolanda; daughter Patricia and her husband Mark Eigenman, granddaughters Abigail Gorrell and Elizabeth Baughman, sister-in-law Joyce Rychnovsky and nephews and niece Tom, Joe and Mary Diane Rychnovsky and their families. Services celebrating Jay’s life will be held on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 12:00 noon at Pathway Memorial Funeral Home. Inurnment will full military honors will follow at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, Mo. Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 17, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorial Contributions are appreciated to the Wounded Warrior Project, 7400 College Boulevard, Suite 350, Overland Park, Kansas 66210.