Calvin “Cap” McQuay

Calvin “Cap” McQuay

December 15, 1938 — September 4, 2024

Cap McQuay, of Ozark, passed away Wednesday September 4, 2024, at Springfield Mercy Hospital after a brief illness. 

There will be a Celebration of Life on Sunday September 29, 2024,at Venue on Brick 209 N. Second Ozark, Missouri from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. In honor of Cap’s fondness for the K.C. Chiefs, we’re celebrating his life along with the Kansas City Chiefs at the LosAngeles Chargers football game. Chiefs gear and casual attire is the rule of the day, please. 

Cap was born in Callao, Missouri on December 15, 1938, the youngest child of Father and Mother, Alonzo E. (Lonnie) and Emma McQuay’s ten (10) children. Cap spent his childhood and teens on the family farm in Macon, Missouri, graduating from Macon High School in 1956. Cap married his high school sweetheart, Donna Demonbrun (McQuay) January 11, 1957. Cap and Donna had one son, Lonnie. 

Cap worked for several years at the Ford Motor plant in Claycomo, Missouri. Throughout his years he also tried his hand at construction work before finally settling into a long-term career as an over-the-road truck driver. Cap helped move the needs of Americans for 38 years before retiring from Roadway Transportation in 2000. 

Cap enjoyed the open road. He often spoke of things he experienced first-hand, such as the sunrise launch of hot air balloons over New Mexico, the Rockies of Colorado, the Poconos of Pennsylvania, endless small town cafes, driver-friendly truck stops, the brutal winds of West Texas, the wheat fields of Kansas, and the strength of Mother Nature in Oklahoma where he survived a tornado picking him and his 18-wheeler up and tossing them into a river. Despite all those open road experiences, Cap also smiled brighter when he spoke of the one experience he enjoyed the most, which was coming home after each trip to his wife Donna of 59 years. 

After Caps’ wife Donna died in 2017, he managed the Hurricane Bay Car Wash in Ozark where he enjoyed meeting new people, joking with old friends and making new friends. Because his wife Donna had been Mayor of Ozark for a period, Cap always grinned referring to himself as “The First Man of Ozark” as he did right up to the end.

The McQuay family would like to offer a special thank you to a few extraordinary people of Ozark that went above and beyond to help, encourage and support Cap in too many ways to mention and will be forever in your debt for the love, devotion, and support you so graciously provided Cap throughout his years in Ozark. Thank you, Lisa and Jon Lane Family, Jacklyn and John Snow Family, Kim and John Cook Family. 

To Mercy’s Dr. Northcote and nurses of Floor 7, your professionalism, support and faithful duty to Cap while in your careis a glowing testimony to your calling as caregivers, thank you. 

Survivors include Son and Daughter-in-Law, Lonnie and Yvonne McQuay of Stilwell, Kansas, Granddaughter, Morgan McQuay of Los Angeles, California, Sister Judy Woods of Mesa, Arizona, and Dorothy (Dot) Lauer of Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. 

Cap was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Donna, his father and mother Alonzo (Lonnie) McQuay and Emma McQuay, brothers Larry, BD, Don, Lester and Dave; Sisters Virginia and Bonnie and Sister-in-Law Del Rae McQuay. 

Burial to be held on a to-be-determined date and time at Vaughn-Oddfellows Cemetery, Ozark. In lieu of flowers, please offer donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Cremation rites were accorded by Adams Crematory and arrangements are under direction of Adams Funeral Home, Ozark.