James "Jay" McGrath

James (Jay) Joseph McGrath, 80 years old, passed away on Tuesday April 3, due to heart complications after a lengthy hospital stay. James was a loving husband to Patricia McGrath, father to James Patrick McGrath and Kathleen McGrath Schrang, and grandfather to Erin K. Schrang.

James was born on November 30, 1937 in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest child of Mary and John McGrath. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1957-1959. He met his beloved wife Patricia while in high school and they married in 1959. James worked in New York City for the Edison Company for 25 years. In 1980, the family relocated to Thousand Oaks, California. They have resided in Simi Valley for the past 28 years. James is a co-owner of the Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks locations of Tile City and Stone since 1991.

James was a member of Saint Jude Parish in Westlake Village. He was known for his charismatic attitude and humor. He always had a story to tell and could make anyone laugh. He truly loved his life and the people in it. He enjoyed traveling with his wife Patricia, spending time with his family and watching his granddaughter play volleyball. He was truly a people person and put smiles on everyone’s faces. He was a family man and lived six houses away from his daughter and granddaughter, spending time with them every day. James loved reading about history and watching historical documentaries. He had a passion for animals and actively took care of his dogs. He would do anything for his family.

James was described as caring, compassionate, loving, positive and quite funny. People always said he was one of a kind, and a true blessing to those in his life. He was a hard worker and always got the job done right. He would always help out neighbors and friends, without a second thought, just to make their lives a little easier. He was a good person who had a lot of love for all of the people in his life.

He is survived by his wife, son and daughter, and granddaughter. He was proceeded by his parents, and all of his siblings.

James will be buried on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at 1:00 PM, at Pierce Brothers, 5600 Lindero Canyon Rd. in Westlake Village. We invite you to come celebrate his wonderful life.