John T. "Scrappy" Bays 75 of Axtell passed away Tuesday Sept. 22 at his residence. Services will be 10 am Friday Sept. 25 at Olive Branch Baptist church with Dr. Rex Bland officiating. Burial will follow at Longbotham Cemetery in Wortham, TX. Visitation will be 7 to 9 pm Thursday Sept. 24 at Bellmead Funeral Home. John was born February 19, 1934 in Wortham to Joseph and Hazel (Daugherty) Bays. He graduated from Axtell High School in 1953, served in the Navy from 1953 to 1957 and married Bertha York on March 18, 1961 in Gholson. He received an Associates Degree from Alvin Junior College. He began his law enforcement career with the Waco Police Department, then the McLennan County Sherriff Department and retired from Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission in 1992. He was a Constable in PCT 2 in McLennan County for 7 years following retirement. John was a 25 year member and Deacon at Olive Branch Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife Bertha Bays of Axtell, sons John T. Bays Jr. and wife Kelly of Lorena, Jim Bays of Axtell and Joe "Scooter" Bays and wife Elizabeth of Del Rio, sisters Sarah Legrand of Arlington, Brenda Hennig of Waco and Juanita Mullens of Oregon, brother Joe Bays Jr. of Washington, 6 grandchildren Lindsey, James, Kelsey, Brian, Cade and Clegg and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Charles Wiley, Brandon Hawthorne, Craig Young, Curt Persilver, Ken Truax and Jesse Lopez, Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne Mosley and Joe Terral.