Jay Warren Lee

Jay Warren Lee, age 78, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, returned to his heavenly Father on Saturday, July 2, 2011, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jay was born Dec. 8, 1932, at the Lee family homestead near Heber City, Utah. He is the son of Fay and Golda Locks Lee. Jay attended Wasatch High School in Heber City, where he was the football captain and senior class president. He graduated in 1951. Soon after, he and his high school sweetheart, Joanne Walton, were married in the Logan Temple. They were happily married for 60 years, and very devoted to each other in their loving marriage. Soon after high school, Jay joined the Air Force, serving in the Korean Conflict. He graduated from Mortuary School of Science in San Francisco. He worked as a funeral director for 45 years. In 1968, Mr. Lee was hired as the original director of the San Juan Mortuary in Blanding, Utah, where the young Lee family enjoyed jeeping, hunting and fishing activities. Then, in 1972, he moved his family to Farmington, purchasing the old Boy's Market Grocery Store building at 103 E. Ute St. Jay and his brother-in-law, Spence Oviatt, took 6 months to remodel the building to the original Lee & Oviatt Mortuary, which is currently Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home, in the same location on Ute Street. Mr. Lee also bought and ran Lee Funeral Home in Springerville, Ariz., from 1978 until 1984. He retired in 2003, working part-time for a few more years with Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home. He later moved to Albuquerque and then to Salt Lake City. Jay was respected in the community and an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in many callings including Executive Secretary. Jay was an avid Jazz and BYU fan, enjoyed family table games and watching old classic westerns or a good football game. Jay was preceded in death by his parents; son, Tony W. in 1986; granddaughter, Nicole Slade in 1982; one brother, Hal Lee; and two sisters, June Lindsay and Enid Holmes. He is survived by his wife, Joanne; children: Jason W. Lee of Salt Lake City; Colette (Curt) Slade of Albuquerque; Rebecca Jo (Vale) Wilson of Kailua Kona, Hawaii, and Tammy Joanne Lee of Eugene, Ore.; two foster daughters, Aggie and Tina; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Viewing will be held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. today, July 8, at Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. in Farmington. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today, July 8, at Greenlawn Cemetery, 1606 N. Dustin Ave. in Farmington. Full military honors will be provided by VFW Post No. 2182 of Farmington. Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home 103 E. Ute St. Farmington, NM 87401 (505) 325-8688