Jay Hall

On Sunday morning, February 25 we said a fond farewell to the one and only Jay Lee Hall. Born on a chilly 28th day of December in 1939, Jay entered the world into the Home Acres community, just south of Grand Rapids, MI, and proved from that moment on that he was anything but ordinary. His unique blend of charisma, creativity, humor, and love made him a beloved figure throughout Wyoming, Michigan, where he could often be found painting, crafting wood carvings, tinkering with anything mechanical or snookering his opponents at the pool table. Jay was a jack of all trades, literally. He had 6 skilled trades under his belt and wore them all with pride. He retired from the GM Delphi plant in Wyoming, MI where he proudly kept the multi-million dollar machines running. But before that he did a little of everything. From serving in the 101st Airborne, to helping his brother, Jerry's road oil business, to driving trucks and busses, to auto body repair, to his favorite role, working as a model maker in the "House of Magic" at Lear Siegler. That was where he combined his creative genius with the ability to provide for his new and growing family that he loved so deeply. Earlier in life he enjoyed fishing, hunting, dancing, classic country & western music. His retirement didn't slow him down all that much either. If anything, it gave him more time to enjoy his hobbies - painting wood carved birds and butterflies, and spending time with his grandchildren and his dogs. His love for life and laughter never overshadowed his deep love for the Lord Jesus Christ and his family. He was a born-again Methodist who, despite vision and reading challenges, read his Bible every day. His favorite scripture, Revelation 21:1-7, Jesus Christ: the Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the end and spoke of a new heaven and a new earth, fitting for a man who lived life on his own terms while holding some very traditional beliefs. Jay is survived by the love of his life, loving wife, and the best cook in town, Judy; his children, Pamela (Ken), Christopher (Jennifer), and Amanda (Shawn) and his step-children, who were not blood, but you couldn't convince Jay they belonged to anyone but him, Brenda (Scott), Doug (Leslie), Bonnie (Joseph), and Richard (Jill). His pride and joy were his many grand and great-grandchildren. Jay was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Gladys; his siblings, Iola "Bud", Jack, Gene, Jerry, and Judy. Jay's life was lived using all the colors on his palette. Full of love, laughter, hard work and faith, he will be deeply missed by all who knew him. There will never be another like him. Per Jay's wishes cremation has taken place and memorial service arrangements will be announced as soon as they become available. Gifts in Jay's honor can be given to Buck Creek Community Church for their Family Resource Center (click the link below to donate online). We invite you to share your memories of Jay and upload photos on the memorial page. Each story and photo, allows us to remember and celebrate the life of this charismatic, creative, funny, and loving man. And remember, in the words of Jay himself, he was just "B.S.-ing with the best of them." Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006, exclusive providers of Veterans Funeral Care. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jay Hall, please visit our flower store.