Troy Veach, 82, passed away at the Putnam County Care Center on Sunday, May 30, 2021, where he had been a resident for a short time.
Troy Joe Veach was born August 14,1938, at the home of his parents, Mary Audry (Hayes) and Rodney Bine Veach, in Unionville, Missouri. When he was 9 years old, he moved with his parents to the Mendota area. He attended Mendota Grade School and Unionville High School.
Troy worked at the Unionville dairy driving a milk truck until he was drafted into the army in October of 1961. He completed his basic training at Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas, and was sent to Germany where he spent the rest of his enlisted time other than a few months at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He received his honorable discharge in July 1963. He went back to work at the dairy after he returned home. Troy had a tragic accident in April of 1964, when a stick of dynamite went off in his hand and he lost an arm, eye, and ear drum.
Troy married Barbara Ann Matteo of Omaha, Nebraska on October 3, 1964, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Unionville, Missouri. To this union three sons were born. They later divorced.
Troy worked road construction driving a scraper and later for Missouri mining. In 1978 he developed glaucoma and was forced to take medical retirement.
In the summer of 1978, he reacquainted with an old classmate, Barbara Dean Shadden Davis and they married. He spent the rest of his life in the Mendota and Unionville area except for the past few years in Cincinnati, Iowa.
Troy was an outdoorsman and liked to fish and hunt. He often told stories about how happy he was when they moved to the country, and he could roam the hills and creeks. Troy never met a stranger and was always willing to lend a helping hand especially to his mother and sisters. The door was always open and coffee pot on at Troy and Barb’s. It seemed at times there was a constant stream of friends and family visiting. He was a cherished family member and will be greatly missed.
Troy was preceded in death by his wife Barbara Dean, his parents, grandparents, two sisters, Cindy Jones and Elaine Quigley and husband Fred, and a brother Terry Lee Veach. He was also preceded in death by nephews David White, Barry Dean Quigley, Joshua Veach and Rodney Quigley; a great nephew, Scott Dykes; a great-great nephew, Alex Warrick; and a brother-in-law Delbert White.
Survivors include two stepdaughters Terri Lynn Baker of Cincinnati, Iowa and Annette Marie Veach Kreff of Omaha, Nebraska; three sons Derrick Dean Veach, Steven Darold Veach and Michael Shawn Veach of Omaha, Nebraska; special grandsons Tyler Baker and wife Amanda of Lexington, South Carolina, Derrick Veach Jr, Daniel and Travis Veach of Omaha, Nebraska. Troy’s great grandchildren are Derrick Veach, the second and Troy Veach, Ava, Haley, and Jasmine Veach, Peyton and Evelyn Baker, Sadie, Hunter and Draven Baker.
He is also survived by two sisters, Rosemary White of Cincinnati, Iowa and Vivian Shahan of Kingsport, Tennessee, and brother-in-law Carl Jones of Unionville, Missouri, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Playle & Collins Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO.
Troy’s wishes were to be cremated and there will be no visitation or services. Memorials may be made to the Rose Cemetery and entrusted with Playle & Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th, Unionville, MO.