Jay Wilson

Jay Bennett Wilson passed away at the home of his son Stephen Wilson and his daughter-in-law Bea, (where he has been residing for the past 2 years), in Anderson, California on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. Jay was an only child, born on November 22, 1929 to James Bennett Wilson and Ruth Alice Marshall in Colon, Panama, C.Z. U.S.A.

Jay married his sweetheart Mary Lee Shaw on February 7, 1953. They cherished 61 years together before Lee passed away on August 27, 2014. They were sealed as Eternal Companions in the Oakland California Temple on April 9, 1976. Jay and Lee enjoyed a full life of, hunting, canoeing, sailing, skin diving, riding four wheelers and just being together. Jay is survived by their 4 children - Stephen (Bea), Guy (Andra), Vaughn (Becky) and Valerie (Wilson) McGill, 33 grandchildren, 76 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren, his brothers-in-law Vernon John Shaw, Leslie Allan Shaw, Marlin Dale Shaw and his sister-in-law Vera Nadine (Shaw) Baker. Jay was preceded in death by his wife, his brother-in-law Dean Robert Shaw and his parents.

Jay served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America from April 10, 1951 until January 10, 1953 where he received a Purple Heart and 2 Bronze Stars. He was transferred to the Army reserve until August 23, 1956.

Jay worked for AT&T until he retired in 1985. He was on the Contra Costa County Sherriff's reserve as a diver until January 1, 1978 and served for a number of years with the Idaho County Sheriff's Posse. He taught Hunter's Safety, swimming, skin diving, Judo and scuba diving for many years and loved being a member of the Moby Dick Skin Diving Club. He loved the Scouting Program (BSA) and spend a good part of his adult life serving in that organization.

He had an amazing mind and enjoyed making things with his hands. He loved carving, drawing, boat building and general tinkering. He made beautiful knives, and rifle stocks and created an amazing aquaponics system in his greenhouse. His family cherishes many pieces of his handiwork. He loved sharing stories of his life experiences - and his listeners loved hearing of his amazing adventures! He was truly a man of many talents and will be greatly missed. Jay was loved and cherished as a Husband, Father, Grandfather, Relative and Friend.

Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Kamaih, Idaho on Friday, September 29, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. with a viewing at 10:00 a.m. The church is located 2.5 miles east of Kamiah on Highway 12.