Jay Raymond Smith

Jay Raymond Smith left this old world on the evening of October 22, at the age of 87 years. He passed away peacefully at his home just as the sun was setting, one of his favorite times of the day, after a lengthy illness. He was a fighter and didn’t give in to illness easily.

Born to Raymond and Mary Smith on July 24, 1938, Jay spent his early years in a little house near Speedway and very close to the Track where the family privy wasn’t even indoors. However, the family prospered in the early nineteen fifties and built a nice brick three bedroom house on North High School Road. Much of Jay’s early life focused on the Motor Speedway, which he loved, even caddied for Bob Hope. In 1956, after he graduated from Pike high school he joined the Air Force and served honorably, spending much of his time at the Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany while taking time out to visit London and Paris.

Once home from service, Jay attended Air Traffic Control School and Purdue University. Eventually, Jay joined Wm. H. Block Department Store selling furniture and when that company was bought out by Lazarus, Jay worked at their Castleton location which turned out to be the best and happiest years of his retail career.

Jay enjoyed traveling to all places in the United States from New York City to the Grand Canyon to the West Coast. Jay often took his widowed father and Mike along on his trips. He also ran marathons competing in the Atlanta race twice. Though not a big movie fan in later years, Jay enjoyed traveling to New York’s Broadway to watch live stage shows including My Fair Lady and The Elephant Man. He also had a keen interest in building projects in Indianapolis and lived downtown for many years.

Jay was a very giving person all his life and will be dearly missed. Jay was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Margie Kiefer and his brother Alfred Smith. He is survived by his brother David, his nieces Kim and Kris, his nephew Darren, Darren’s siblings Brian, Jeff, and Lynn, his good friend Larry Beeler and his life-time companion of 45 years, Mike Dunn.

A Visitation for Jay will take place on Saturday, November 1st from 11AM-1PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home, 700 W 38th St. Indianapolis, IN 46208, with a Memorial Service to follow at 1:00 PM. Jay will be laid to rest at Crown Hill Cemetery.