Owen Sidney Mays, Jr., age 74, of 107 Hilltop Circle, Daleville, Virginia, passed away Thursday, September 30, 2010 at the Brian Center in Fincastle.

He was born April 8, 1936 in Clifton Forge, Virginia, a son of the late Owen Sidney Mays, Sr. and Daisy Higgins Mays.

While growing up, he loved singing, and sang with a group of high school boys.

He was a member of the Lone Star Advent Christian Church.

He served in the National Guard for five years, and afterwards, went to work as a carman inspector for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Shops. He later transferred to Norfolk and Western Railroad in Toronto, OH. In 1980, he moved back to Virginia and went to work for Norfolk and Southern Railroad in Roanoke.

At the time of his death, he had been a patient for the last six years in the Brian Center in Fincastle, where he felt at home and was loved by those who took care of him.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, James and Marian Mays.

He is survived by his wife, Carlene Putnam Mays of Daleville; three sons, Mark Mays and wife, Ruth of West Virginia, David Mays of Daleville, and Jeff Mays of California; six grandchildren, Jacob Mays, Joshua Mays, Amanda Mays, Michael Mays, Mindy Mays, and Dusty Mays; four great grandchildren, Brandon Mays, Nathan Mays, Rowen Mays, and Isaac Mays; two sisters, Susie Mays and Addie Linkswiler Vance, both of Clifton Forge; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, with Reverend Doug Moore officiating. Interment followed in Central Advent Christian Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jacob Mays, Joshua Mays, Keith Hall, Bruce Hall, Burton Eddy Nicely, and Greg Linkswiler. The family received friends on Saturday afternoon, from 1:00 p.m. until time of service at Nicely Funeral Home and friends are welcome to visit anytime at the home of Susie Mays, 108 Meadowdale Lane in Nicelytown, Clifton Forge, Virginia.