Obituary of Jay Dee Lemons

Jay Dee Lemons, 84 of Port Orchard, WA died July 18, 2015 in Tacoma, WA. He was born in Bogue, KS November 14, 1930 to Roy & Eunice (Hecht) Lemons. He married Ruth J. Oliver April 10, 1950 in Galeton, CO. Jay had a strong Christian testimony and enjoyed working with young people in the churches he attended. He enjoyed building wooden toys such as swings, go-carts, rocket ships, clubhouses and rocking or spring horses (elephants) for his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, for their great enjoyment and his. He loved playing games with his children and grandchildren, and gave no quarter, whether it was rubber guns, sidewalk hockey, kick ball, Chinese checkers, or Monopoly. Jay and Ruth were always up for any adventure and the makers of many! He was a master player of the musical saw, from playing “The Orange Blossom Special” and worship songs, to making eerie Halloween sounds. He also greatly enjoyed singing hymns. He built four houses and renovated several others in his “spare time.” Jay worked as a telegrapher and station agent for the Union Pacific and retired in 1978 after 30 years of service. He enjoyed owning and helping Ruth with a ceramic shop called "The Lemon Tree Ceramics" in Ripon CA. Surviving are son Stephen (JymmeLynn) of Port Orchard; daughters Beverly (Mark) North of Dayton, OH, Julie Highberger of Sterling, CO, Ivy (Todd) Hanna of Port Orchard; & Heather Larson (Kevin York) of Poulsbo, WA; grandchildren Sacha, Jay, Shane, Tabitha, Amber, John, Christina, Ben, Sarah, Tim, Jessica & Paul; great-grandchildren Joseph, Daisy, Damian , Jaycob, Toren, Sophie, Talon & Rhory. He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth, daughter Bonnie, sister Mary and her husband, Arthur Burrill, brother Lloyd Lemons and his wife Dorothy, and son-in-law Mike Highberger.