Diana Lynn Jay

Diana Lynn Jay, 61, of Warden, died Tuesday March 15, 2011 at her home Diana was born in Ottumwa, Iowa on June 8, 1949, to Darryl and Christine (Boughman) Short. She graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1967. During High School she met the love of her life, Lowell Jay, when he asked her to his senior prom. They were married on June 22, 1968, in Ottumwa. Lowell was in the Army and stationed in Seattle, so that is where they made their first home until he was transferred to Holland.

They were in Holland for one of the most amazing years in their life together. During their stay they visited 14 countries, exploring much of Europe together.

After Lowell returned stateside and was discharged from the Army, their first son, Derek, was born. They then moved back to Seattle and settled on Queen Anne Hill. Diana helped Lowell establish several neighborhood grocery stores called Jay’s Regular Store. Three years later their second son, Kyle, was born.

In 1980 they moved to Quilcene, WA and bought Peninsula Foods. Diana became a proud volunteer EMT/Firefighter. In 1984 they moved to Sequim, WA and later sold the store in 1987. Diana again joined her husband in a new venture, making sandwiches to sell in the local markets. After four years they sold the business and retired from more than twenty years in the grocery store business.

During her time on the peninsula, Diana wore many hats. She continued her service in Sequim as a volunteer fire fighter and EMT for the fire district, a real estate agent and a mom. In 1990 she went to work for Sequim Valley Funeral Chapel as an apprentice. As she had all of her life, Diana enjoyed helping families in their time of need. While she was in Sequim she also was a founding member of the Sequim Quilting Club. Diana’s health forced the family to move to a drier climate. They moved to Othello in 1998 and then later that year to Warden. She worked part time at Stevens Funeral Chapel and full time driving the school bus. She loved driving the bus and was known as “Grandma” to many of the children she drove. Diana drove the bus up until the time of her death.

Diana was an avid quilter, and even when she didn’t have the room to set up her quilting in Warden, she continued to travel all over Washington to quilting shows and shops, acquiring quite an array of quilting supplies. She was also an accomplished watercolor painter. She enjoyed gardening and seeing the joy the fruits of her gardening brought to people. She was a member of the Port Angeles Unity Church.

Diana was preceded in death by her father and her brother, Steve. She is survived by her mother, Christine, of Kimberly City, MO, her husband Lowell of Warden, her sons Derek (Shauna) Jay of Warden and Kyle (Holly) Jay of Sequim, three grandsons, Deryck and Hunter of Warden, and Maddox of Sequim and one granddaughter Mackenzie of Sequim. Diana will be missed by all.