Bill (Billy Jack) (William Jackson) Jay
Bill (Billy Jack) (William Jackson) Jay
June 1, 1934 — August 5, 2018
Bill (Billy Jack) (William Jackson) Jay died Aug. 5, 2018, in Marble Falls, Texas, at the age of 84.
Bill was born on June 1, 1934, in Athens, Texas. He was the seventh child of the Rev. Clifford Jay and Minnie Bownds Jay. Most of his childhood his family resided in Lexington, Texas. Bill was an outstanding high school athlete but postponed college to care for his parents. Bill was drafted by the U.S. Army in the mid-fifties. He was a walk-on player for the Fort Hood Tankers football team, whereas most of his teammates were college players. He was at Fort Hood with Elvis Presley and had the opportunity to meet him.
He married Judy Carolyn King and his first son, Michael Raleigh Jay, was born in 1958. Bill moved the family to Austin, Texas, and worked in the construction industry for years, serving as superintendent for a residential subdivision construction company.
He married Marilyn Dalgo (Lyn) in 1968. Bill and Lyn moved to the Highland Lakes area in 1970. Bill was instrumental in the early development of Horseshoe Bay. Bill was the building superintendent for the contractors who built the original country club and condominiums. He then served as the superintendent of Bay Maintenance Company.
Bill was a member of the First Baptist Church of Marble Falls for many years, where he served as a youth sponsor several years. He was later a charter member of Fellowship Baptist Church. Bill served on the Board of Directors for the Marble Falls Little League for several years.
Bill was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and often traveled hunting elk, antelope, and of course white-tail deer. He raised his children on venison and catfish, and often shared his haul with other families. He raised champion field-trial dogs and built and raced speed boats. Bill could always be found at his children’s sporting events and was a devoted Marble Falls Mustangs and Houston Astros fan.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Clifford Jay and Minnie Bownds Jay; his brother, Grady Jay; and three sisters, Rubye Schneider, Joetta Herklotz, and Dalpha Ivelle Jay.
Bill is survived by his wife of 49 years, Lyn Jay; his children, Mike Jay and wife Sharon, daughter Susan Lawrence and husband Bruce, daughter Holly Jay, son Billy Jay and wife Madison, son Matthew Jay and wife Nichole. He also leaves behind grandchildren Tanya, Amber, Clifford, Chris, Audrey, Mitchell, Charles, Charity, Waylon, Jaycee, Stone, and Charli; two great-grandchildren, Brittany and Zach; and two sisters, Lois Boyd and Dortha Jean Thayler.
Visitation was held Thursday, Aug. 9, at Clements-Wilcox funeral home in Marble Falls. A funeral is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 10, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow at Fellowship Baptist Church in Marble Falls. Tommy Ryan will officiate the ceremony. A graveside service will be held at 5 p.m. in Lexington, Texas, at Mesquite Cemetery. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Bill’s life.
