Jay Richard Williams

Williams, Jay Richard, 70, son of Arnetta (Gillberg) and Jay Arthur Williams, passed away March 7, 2015 after a short illness. Memorial service will be 1pm Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Smith Mortuary Chapel, 1415 N Rock Rd, Derby KS. Private inurnment will be held Friday. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice.

Jay was a dedicated music educator who graduated from Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. His newly found career led him to many different schools, including Ford, Dodge City, and Andale in KS, and Keosauqua, Lenox, and Creston in Iowa.

Along with all his teaching, Jay participated in many musical groups over the years. Such as, the Nu 4 at Bethany College, Community Bands in Dodge City and Creston, Creston Tubachristmas, Don Hager Quintet in Dodge City, KS, and the band pit for the Keosauqua Musicals. He organized several high school band trips which included trips to Orlando, Washington DC, Boston, Colorado, Texas and Kansas City. He also organized a state sanctioned marching competition in Lenox, IA, and wrote several marching shows for various schools.

He was born in San Antonio, TX, but lived most of his life in Kansas and Iowa.

He loved his family, friends and the Lord. He is survived by wife: Shann; his sons: Alan (Jennifer) and Mikal (Cammie); wonderful grandchildren; two brothers, Laurin (Carol) and Ken (Stephanie); many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jay Arthur and Arnetta Williams. He enjoyed “spur of the moment” day trips, which included antique hunting or catching a humorous camera shot of down-home American humor.