Obit: Jay, Raymond (1924 - 2017)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Crawford, Didion, Dosedel, Jay, Larson, Peavy, Ryan

----Source: The Ladysmith News (Ladysmith, WI) 3/23/2018

Jay, Raymond (29 APR 1924 - 30 NOV 2017)

Raymond Jay, age 93, of Arlington, Va., died peacefully in his sleep at his daughter Elizabeth's house in Vienna, Va. on Thursday Nov. 30, 2017.

Raymond was born to Erskine and Katheryn (Ryan) Jay on April 29, 1924 in Ladysmith, Wis. He graduated from Ladysmith High School in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving primarily in the Mediterranean during World War II on a USS LCI (L) (Landing Craft Infantry Large) ship. He participated in "Project Hula" in which his ship went thru the Panama Canal up the West Coast and on to Cold Bay, Alaska. He was honorably discharged in 1946 having achieved the rank of Quartermaster First Class. Raymond attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1950 and an MBA in 1953.

Raymond married Lillian Jane Dosedel on Aug. 24, 1957 in Ladysmith. He worked for the Department of Defense, at the Defense Contract Audit Agency as a personnel management specialist. He was remembered as someone able to handle tough situations and recognized as the DCAA staff person of the year in 1985. He retired after 36 years of service to the federal government in 1987.

He was a long-time member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Arlington, Va. and had served on the board of directors for the Family Activity Center, a non-profit Montessori school associated with the church.

Raymond enjoyed fellowship with a group of local families who participated in Christian Family Movement (CFM). He also helped develop the local Alcova Heights Citizens Association.
He enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling, reading, and cooking.

Raymond is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Lillian Jay of Arlington, Va.; his twin sister, Rose Larson of Prairie Farm, Wis. and his older sister, Kay Peavy of Altoona, Wis. He is also survived by his daughters, Catherine Didion of Great Falls, Va. and Elizabeth Crawford of Vienna, Va.; his sons, John Jay of Louisburg, N.C., Christopher Jay of Jackson, Wyo. and Raymond Jay of Los Angeles, Calif.; his grandchildren, Ashley Didion, Loren Crawford, Ryan Didion, Zachary Crawford, Ian Didion, Matthew Crawford and Edie Jay and his great-grandaughter, Kiku Oki.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Kenneth Jay and John Jay.

Raymond’s final wishes were to rest in Arlington, Va., his home town for the past 50 years. The family will notify loved ones and announce the time of his interment at the Arlington National Cemetery’s Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift in honor of Raymond Jay can be sent to Our Lady Queen of Peace Food Pantry fund.