Cover photo for William "Bill" Jay's Obituary
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1934 William 2024

William "Bill" Jay

May 30, 1934 — May 21, 2024

Creston

Bill Jay, 89 of Creston, Iowa entered eternal rest Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at the Mt. Ayr Health Care Center.  Memorial services will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, May 25, 2024 at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center.  Pastor Al Rusk will officiate. The family request you wear Iowa Hawkeye or St. Louis Cardinal attire, if possible.  Bill will be laid to rest in the Graceland Cemetery next to his wife Lois with Military Honors performed by Theodore J. Martens VFW Post #1797.  Memorial contributions may be directed to the “William Jay Memorial Fund”, to be used for the Greenfield area Recovery Efforts.  Memories and condolences can be shared online at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

William R “Bill” Jay was born May 30th,1934 in Orient Iowa to Clare and Elsie Jay. Bill was raised in Orient and graduated from Orient High School in 1952. In August of 1954, he enlisted in the army where he was stationed in Germany as part of a 10 year Allied Occupation of the country after WW2. He was honorably discharged in August of 1956. 

After returning to Creston, he took a job at Creston Mutual Telephone Company. It was there that he met his future wife. On September 14th, 1957, he was united in marriage to Lois Kirkpatrick. The couple was blessed with three children; Denny, Randy and Barb. Bill worked for Creston Mutual which later would become GTE for 30 years, retiring in 1986. After retiring from GTE, he went to work for Westman Siding and Windows where he worked for 10 years.

Bill enjoyed gardening, yard work, and time spent with neighbors. In his younger years, he enjoyed the Bowling League of which he was a part in Creston. Later in life, he took up golf and enjoyed Men’s League at Pine Valley in Creston. He was a great woodworker and carpenter and enjoyed building. His projects included everything from small shelves and rocking horses to grandfather clocks. He did all of the remodeling and additions to he and Lois’ home and he, his father and his two sons built their new two car garage. 

He and Lois enjoyed following all of their children’s school activities and sporting events. Bill was very proud of being a Boy Scout leader for many years. Through the years, Bill and Lois enjoyed many trips to Albuquerque, New Mexico to visit their son Randy and his family. 

As a kid, being an only child, he made a lot of special memories with his cousins from Des Moines, Indianola and Orient. Bill loved the time spent with family. His greatest pride and joy were his grandkids and great-grandkids which he referred to as his “Little Blessings”

Preceding Bill in death was his parents; his wife Lois; and his son Randy Jay. Also three sisters-in- law:  Colleen Brotherton (husband Dick), Carol Wynn (husband Jack) and Diane Loomis; as well as two brothers-in-law:  Boyd (wife Doris) and Jerry Kirkpatrick.

Bill is survived by his son, Denny Jay (wife Camille) of Bondurant, IA; his daughter-in-law, Lizzi Jay of Albuquerque, NM; and his daughter, Barb Ide (husband Dan) of Afton, IA. 

He is also survived by his grandchildren:  Becki Esparsen, Dusty Jay (wife Kirsten) and Billy Jay (wife Deidra) all of Albuquerque, NM. Jacque Tripp (husband Jake) of Lenox, IA, Brody Jay of Creston, IA, Garret Jay (wife Kennedy) of Rochester, MN, Jim Ide (wife Lindsay) of Shannon City, IA and Emily Ide (wife Lindsay) of Creston, IA. Connor Short (wife Jamie) of Windsor Heights, IA, and Kelsey Klein (husband Jeremy) of Bondurant, IA.

Also his great grandchildren:  Marley Cole, Ryan, Lilly, Maddox, Ellison, Brixon, Adalynn, and Callahan Jay, Claire and Grant Ide, ViviAnna and Quinton Tripp and Kennedy, Natalie, Lauren and Benjamin Klein.

Other survivors include his brother in law Ed Kirkpatrick (wife Barb) of Newport News, VA, Sister-in-law Nina Kirkpatrick of Creston, IA as well as many nieces and nephews.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William "Bill" Jay, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Memorial Service

Saturday, May 25, 2024

Starts at 10:30 am (Central time)

Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center - Creston

809 W Montgomery St, Creston, IA 50801

Livestream

Click to watch

Memorial Contributions may be directed to the William Jay Memorial Fund, for the Greenfield Area Recovery Effort.

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Burial

Saturday, May 25, 2024

Starts at 11:30 am (Central time)

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