Jay H. Smith Sr.

Jay Harley Smith, Sr was born in Boise, ID on July 5, 1951 to parents Virginia and Earnest Smith. He was the second youngest of 6 children. Jay left this earth on April 7, 2025. He lived in Vancouver, WA at the time of his passing. He was superseded in death by his son, Jay Smith Jr. Jay is survived by 2 daughters, Kelly Lockman and Betty Smith-Helwig, 7 grandchildren, 5.5 great-grandchildren (new great grandson to be born in July 2025) and many others who he thought of as family, though not biologically related. Those who knew and loved him, called him Papa Jay. Jay spent 17 years in the Marine Corps, where he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant. He worked in Communications, as a radio chief and then as an instructor in the same field. He started his military career by doing basic training in San Diego in 1969. He then spent some time in Camp Pendleton, El Toro and 29 Palms, where he was honorably discharged in 1985. During this time, he was deployed to both Owikana and Korea. He was a Marine who was happiest when training in the field with his troops. He was very proud to serve his country. After leaving the military, Jay joined IBEW as a groundman and stayed in the union for another 15 years. Jay was a simple man. In his younger days, he liked to work on vehicles. We often called him a shade tree mechanic, but he was good at figuring out how something worked or how to fix it. He loved classic country music, as well as both sci-fi and war movies. Jay did not like to go places, however he loved being around his family. He would try to put on a grumpy front, however we would often see that twinkle in his eyes when the family was around. He enjoyed sitting outside while enjoying his morning coffee. He would always talk to those walking down the street and would talk to just about anybody who said Hi to him. He also enjoyed various family outings, however he would grumble and complain on the way to them. It was part of his charm. However, he always had a smile on his face when the grandkids came around. He liked to sit around campfires and fire pits, listening to the stories being told. He was also mischievous and would jump at the chance to pull a prank or argue just for the other person's reaction. His two favorite sayings were "Oh Well!!" and "Shucky Darn!!". While others may have thought of him as just an old grumpy guy, his passing has left a hole in our hearts. He will be very missed!

Jay H. Smith Sr.

July 5, 1951 - April 7, 2025