Jay Frank Chickering, 75, of Ottumwa, formerly of Agency, died at 8:12 a.m. May 22, 2020 at Hospice House in Ottumwa, He was born August 20, 1944 in Ottumwa to Frank and Doris Johnston Chickering. He married Nancy McFarland February 18, 1967 and she preceded him in death July 16, 2018. A graduate of Ottumwa High School Class of ’62 (“Always loyal, always true, we’re the class of ’62!), Jay attended Iowa Success School and Indian Hills Community College before joining the US Army, serving in Vietnam. He worked for the US Post Office for 40 years, starting in Washington D.C. before transferring to Ottumwa. Jay retired as the Agency Postmaster in 2005. He was a member of Willard Street United Methodist Church. Surviving are his children, Melinda (Mike) Trevethan of Cuba City, WI, Matthew (Susan) Chickering of Ottumwa, and David (Sunita) Chickering of Pittsburgh, PA; 6 grandchildren, Myah and Jayden Trevethan, Logan, Cooper, Satyan, and Anjali Chickering; and 3 brothers, David Chickering, Jack (Drue) Chickering, and Chris (Debbie) Chickering. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; granddaughter, Josie Trevethan; brother and sister-in-law, Max and Jewell Chickering; sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Jim Walter, sister-in-law, Judy Chickering; and nephew, Rex Chickering. Private funeral services and military honors will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 26th at Reece Funeral Home with Pastor Jeremy Skinner officiating. For those not able to be inside the funeral home with the family during the service, you may watch the funeral live from Reece Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Limited visitation will be open to friends from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday May 26th at the funeral home. Cremation will follow the visitation. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.rfh-ia.com. Memorials may be made to Timber Ridge Assisted Living or to the family to be designated at a later date. A special thank you to the staff at Timber Ridge for treating Jay like family these past few years.