Jack was born the son of Charles and Florence (Purkess) Lay in Walkerville, Ontario on January 5, 1929. He graduated with honors from Cass Tech High School’s Aeronautical Program in 1947. Jack was a Second Lieutenant in the ROTC program at Cass Tech, the student council treasurer, and most importantly, he was voted “Most Handsome Senior”. Jack studied mechanical engineering at Michigan Tech University and the University of Detroit. He then went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in mathematics from Wayne State University. Jack married Margaret “Margo” Ann Baker on May 22, 1954, and they raised their family in Bloomfield Hills.
Jack began his career in the automotive industry at Ford Motor Company. In 1955, he took a job as an engineer at Chrysler Corporation, specializing in truck modifications. Jack retired in 1989.
Jack loved playing bridge with Margo and many friends at multiple venues. Jack was still playing weekly bridge at the NEXT Senior Center in Birmingham just two weeks before his passing. The Bloomfield Hills Public library was near and dear to Jack and Margo’s hearts. Along with their library friends, they spent countless hours sorting book donations and working at the monthly book sales. He and Margo enjoyed escaping the Michigan winters by spending them in Florida. They became part of the community in Leesburg and formed many lasting relationships. Jack and Margo were avid golfers and members of the Katke Cousins Golf Course at Oakland University. They also loved traveling with the Clarkston Travel Club and many friends both in the United States and abroad.
As a younger man, Jack’s hobby was restoring and rebuilding vintage cars. He was proud of the two Triumph Spitfires and a Triumph TR3 that he completely restored. He was the consummate handyman; he would tackle any type of maintenance project without hesitation. (All before YouTube video assistance.) He loved working on his home and many gardens. Jack was a WWII aficionado of planes, tanks, and strategy. He worked for years writing a book about the planes flown in WWII, and sadly never published it.
Jack was predeceased by his loving wife and partner of 66 years, Margo. He is survived by his children Karen (Tim) Crawforth, Beverly (Steve) Pinaire, and Keith (Vickey Kotch) Lay; grandchildren Jacqueline (Nick) Bal, Jessica (Adam) Marschel, Jason (Nabina Shrestha) Crawforth, Alexander Pinaire, Benjamin Pinaire, Zachary Pinaire, Stephen “Quinn” (Mel McManus) Pinaire, ; great-grandchildren Emily Marschel, Elliot Bal, Logan Bal, Liam Bal, Frankie Pinaire, and Mac Pinaire; as well as numerous nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved. Jack was predeceased by his two beloved siblings, Louise Nyquist and Jean Anne Weston.
A Celebration of Life will be held this spring/summer.
Memorial contributions may be made in Jack’s honor to the Bloomfield Hills Public Library online at: www.btpl.org/donations.
Birmingham Next online at: https://birminghamnext.org/get-involved/donate
