Johnny Wesley Jay
Johnny Wesley Jay passed away in Holdenville, Oklahoma on Monday, April 8, 2024, at the age of 89 years.
Johnny is the son of Will & Ethel (Anderson) Jay, born on May 15, 1934, in Lamar, Oklahoma. He was brought up and attended schools in Lamar and Moss and was a graduate of Moss High School. He played baseball in high school and pitched a really fast ball, 90mph he always said, although he personally thought it was probably faster. He joined the U.S. Army in 1954 and was sent to Texas for boot camp in El Paso and stationed for a while at Fort Hood, before shipping out to Korea where he served in the 4th Armored Division. He returned to Oklahoma and married Opal Hampton on January 6, 1958, in Okemah. He worked maintenance for a while for First National Bank in Shawnee and then for many years in the Tinker AFB maintenance department. He retired in 1975 and moved to Holdenville. In his later years he worked at a local gas station and convenience store called Doc’s Citgo when his daughter and son-in-law owned and operated it; when they sold the business and it became known as J-Weezie’s, Johnny continued to work there. He didn’t work for money, he was there for coffee and an occasional cappuccino, but mostly just for hugs. He loved fishing and hunting and attended every Moss Reunion. He was an avid fan of the Moss Pirates, OU, and his son John’s music. He was a devoted and beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Will & Ethel Jay; his wife of 47 years, Opal Jay; his son, Johnny Wayne Jay; his sister, Willie Lee Jay.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Mary & James Wardlow of Holdenville; six grandchildren: Michelle Skipworth (Jami), Elisha Lunsford (Josh), Carla Moore (Che), all of Holdenville, and Mindy Wardlow, Carrie Jay, and Miranda Jiminez (Juan), all of Seminole; thirteen great grandchildren: Brittany, Kennedy, Dylan, Liberty, Zecheriah, Natalie, Mason, Emily, Leveah, Malachi, Amia, Gabriel, and Olivia; great-great-granddaughter, Merci; nieces and nephews, other relatives, and many friends.
Memorial service with military honors will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024, 1:00pm at Holdenville Church of the Nazarene, with Rev. Dane Robinson officiating. www.fisherfh. net.
