Jeffrey Nelson Jay

On November 23, 2014, Jeffrey Nelson Jay passed away at his home in Plainfield, Indiana. Jeff was surrounded by loved ones, who all contributed to his care since his diagnosis of a brain tumor in January of this year.

Jeff was born on August 25, 1952 in Sheridan, Indiana. He was the first son of James Nelson Jay and Mary Kathleen (Anders) Jay. The family lived in Decatur Township and were members of Valley Mills Friends Meeting.

Jeff graduated in 1970 from Decatur Central High School, where he is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame at Earlham College and the Basketball Hall of Fame at Hanover College, where he earned his degree in 1974. He earned his MBA from Miami of Ohio and had a 30-year career in sales and clinical research at Eli Lilly.

Jeff and his wife, Brenda, were married on August 11, 1979. Soon thereafter, they became the proud parents of two daughters, Amy and Laura.

Jeff was the perfect father, always putting his family before his career and supporting his daughters (and nieces and nephews) in everything they did. He was an active softball and basketball coach, and he could always be heard cheering from the sidelines at tennis matches and—miraculously—throughout the entire running course during cross country meets. He never missed one of his girls’ events. His infectious smile and exceptional sense of humor made him a well-loved coach, colleague, and friend to many. Also a dedicated fundraiser, he and the Jaywalkers raised over $650,000 for cystic fibrosis research.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Nelson Jay, and his sister, Jennifer Born Funcheon. Jeff is survived by his mother, Kathleen; his brothers, Gregg (Jill), Jim (Marsha), and David (Lisa); his wife, Brenda (Crider) Jay; his daughters Laura (David Ballinger) and Amy (Gavin Stephens); and his granddaughters, Ruby Jay Ballinger and Evelyn Jay Stephens.

A calling will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2014, 1 to 5 p.m., at Carlisle – Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, in Mooresville, Indiana. The memorial service will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2014, 2 p.m. in West Newton Friends Meeting, 6800 S. Mooresville Rd., Indianapolis, Indiana 46221. Burial will follow at West Newton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Indiana Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 1261 West 86th Street, Suite E-2, Indianapolis, IN, 46260. Visit www.carlislebranson.com to share a favorite memory, view Jeff’s Life Story video, or to sign the online guest registry.

The immediate family would like to offer a special thanks to all of the family and friends whom we leaned on heavily during this difficult time. Your love for Jeff was evident through your caring and loving actions. Thank you.