Jay Pritchard

Jay was born in Syracuse, New York. He and his sister, Becky, were raised by his mother and step-father, Norma and Jim Walsh in their home near Oneida Lake. He loved playing outdoors with his friends and his dad stopped buying him bikes, because "he ran everywhere." In the winter, when the lake froze, Jay enjoyed riding his snow mobile across the lake to visit his uncle. He enjoyed playing all kinds of sports including baseball, basketball, football, and hockey.

When Jay was in highschool, the family moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After high school, Jay attended Coastal Carolina and worked several jobs. One of those jobs was working at The Bowery in the late 70's when the band, Alabama, was getting its start. He also learned to play golf, which he loved.

In 1981, Jay moved to College Station, Texas with a friend and never looked back. He graduated from Sam Houston State University with a History degree. He worked at UCS (now Reynolds and Reynolds) for ten years. He then became an assistant youth director and later a college ministry director at Christ United Methodist Church. It was at Christ Church that he learned about UMARMY, an annual youth mission week, that became Jay's passion for several years.

In working with youth, Jay realized that he wanted to become a teacher and within a few years got his teacher certification while working at Timber Academy in CSISD. Timber eventually became College View High School where Jay was the history teacher until his retirement. He loved his school family that included all kinds of students and teachers.

Jay is preceded in death by his parents, Norma and Jim Walsh. He is survived by his children, Jayson and Ray Pritchard, his sister and brother-in-law, Becky and Grant Jones. His niece and her daughter, Katelyn and Kyleigh Jones.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to UMARMY at https://www.umarmy.org/about-us/financial-support or to The College Station Education Foundation at https://www.givetokids.csisd.org/ways-to-give/donate.html

A memorial service for Jay will be held Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 11:00 am at Memorial Funeral Chapel College Station, 2901 Texas Avenue South, College Station, Texas 77845.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialfuneralchapel.com for the Pritchard family.