James Fred (Jay) Reynolds died October 9, 2019 at the age of 84.
Jay was born on October 29, 1934 in Price, Utah to Fred McClure Reynolds and Charlotte Maude James. He attended school in Price and graduated from Carbon High in 1952. Jay served in the US Airforce from 1953-1957. He attended the Colorado School of Mines and graduated with a degree in Mining Engineering in 1961.
Jay began his career working for US Steel Corp’s Geneva Coal mine in 1961. He worked there for 14 years and ultimately became the Mine Manager. From 1976 through 1979 Jay was the General Superintendent of Swisher Coal Company in Price, Utah. In 1980 he became General Manager of Snowmass Coal Company, Blue Ribbon Coal Co. and Grand Mesa Coal Co, in Colorado. In 1984 Jay accepted a position as Vice-President of Peabody West Virginia Division where he retired in 1993 and moved back to Carbon County.
Jay served as the past Chairman of AAIME – Utah Coal Section, City Council East Carbon, Utah, and as President of the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute.
Jay married Nadine Holtz in 1957 and they were later divorced. Together they had a daughter, Tammy and he received two “bonus” daughters, Linda and Carol.
He married JoAnne Cook Jackson on October 21, 1977 and added four more “bonus” children, Lynn, Hal, Roger and Anne. In 1989 Jay and JoAnne were sealed for time and all eternity in the Washington DC Temple. Jay served faithfully as a Bishop in West Virginia and later as a temple worker for 12 years in the Manti Temple. He also faithfully served in many other callings.
Jay enjoyed a variety of past times, including fly fishing, camping, traveling, reading, golfing, carpentry, cabinetry and wood-working, and tormenting his grandchildren. Jay was a “Jack of all Trades and Master of Many.” Jay’s positive, good-humored attitude was contagious. He could always “spin a good yarn” and captivate whomever he was speaking to. His work ethic and tenacity were a great example and blessing to his family and all who knew him.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jon Reynolds, and grandson Randy Sean Wayman.
Jay is survived by his wife JoAnne, daughters Tammy (Ron) Valdez, Linda (Randy) Wayman, Carol (Don) Logston, and Anne (David) Wieben, sons Lynn (Kathryn) Jackson, Hal (Mary Ann) Jackson and Roger (Valentyna) Jackson, a sister Sandra Mansfield, 23 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
Funeral service Monday, October 14, 2019, 11:00 a.m., at the Wellington First Ward Chapel, (50 North 100 East). Family will receive friends at the church beginning at 9:00 a.m. Interment Cliffview Cemetery, Price. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home where friends are welcome to share memories of Jay at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.