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He was born November 16, 1933, in Sandpoint to George and Georgia M. Holton Jeppesen. In the winter months his family lived in Sandpoint and in the summer they stayed in a cabin at a cedar camp above Brown's Mill.
When he was four years old, his family settled in the Highland Flats area, where he attended school in the Highland Flats Schoolhouse until sixth grade, after which he attended the Naples School and later Bonners Ferry High School. In high school he played football but he loved boxing.
He often remarked that he was raised in the best of times and had the greatest life. He spent his time growing up riding horses, trapping, fishing and hunting and he spent many summers in Fall Creek. In the evenings, his family would play games, or just sit around, talk, and enjoy each other's company.
Jay started working in Brown's Mill when he was 16 years old. He then joined the army in May of 1955 and spent 14 months in Korea. He returned from there in 1957 and was in the reserves until 1963. He met and married Elizabeth Jo Owens on July 4, 1958. They raised six children and helped raise 11 foster children.
While raising his children, he served several years as a scout master. He loved this time and loved his scouts.
After the army, he worked at Colburn Mill for a short time then moved to the Pack River Lumber Mill in Bonners Ferry, where he worked as a saw filer until he retired, after which he drove truck in Alaska, Texas and Arizona.
After driving truck, Jay helped tear down a saw mill, relocating it to Salmo, British Colombia. After Canada, he and Jo ended up in Metlakatna, Alaska, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Eventually they returned home, where he drove grain truck in the summer to fund his winters in Arizona. In Arizona, he enjoyed swimming, golfing and family time under the warm sun.
He loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren -- they were his life. He was one of the kindest men on earth and was loved and respected by all who knew him.
He is survived by his children Katherine (Jon),Wasilla, Alaska, Dana of Kamiah, Idaho, Gayle (Charles), Naples, Niles, Post Falls, Shannon (Roger), Bovil, Idaho, and Teresa (Daryl) of Naples. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Jo Styers, and brother Allen Jeppesen, along with 16 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren.
Preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jo, brother Terry Jeppesen, and grandson Jon Eivan Overland.