Jay Lloyd Macarty

Jay Lloyd Macarty was born on November 5, 1959, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Lloyd T. and Mary Jo Macarty. He was the middle child of three. He enjoyed being the only son of his parents and little/big brother to his sisters Sherri and Patti. His family remembers young Jay as forever curious, ever learning, continually asking questions, always talking, and loved every person he met.

As a child, Jay’s family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they lived for a brief time before moving back to Oklahoma, where they made Muskogee their home. Lloyd and Mary Jo proudly proclaimed their son to be a pure delight from the moment he entered this world. Although Jay was born with congenital glaucoma, which eventually took his sight at age 12, nothing stopped the little redhead! He had a special love for school and learning. When his kindergarten teacher, Miss Nell, discovered he would be part of her student body she exclaimed, “Oh, I get the little redhead!” She heard he was a curious sort and wondered if he would be a handful, but she guided his need to learn everything and absolutely loved having him in her classroom. He was always a happy and uplifting child. Since he could see a little, his mother taught him to write the alphabet, count to 100, and such. Mary Jo tells of when Miss Nell wrote all the childrens’ names in Braille on small cards and placed them on each of their desks. She said Jay gave Miss Nell the ol’ “what for!” about that! During roll call he had handwritten something on a piece of paper and tossed it on Miss Nell’s desk, stating as he pointed to his Braille-typed name, “That’s NOT my name!” To his handwritten note he pointed and said, “This is MY name!” He wasn’t going to use those little dots! When Jay’s mother found out about the interaction between he and Miss Nell she promised that Jay would cooperate even though it took a little swat to his britches.

Growing up, Jay would be nicknamed Jaybird. During his adolescent years he had a passion for math and loved woodworking, music, playing guitar in the high school band, and singing in the choir. He received many achievements and awards for all his classes at Muskogee School for the Blind, where in 1978 he earned his high school diploma. Jay took three years of Mr. Finch’s piano tuning class and began tuning pianos at age fifteen. He supported himself financially by tuning many pianos for churches, friends, relatives, and later in college all the pianos in the Fine Arts Building. He even had the privilege of tuning singer, Ronnie Milsap’s, piano when he came to the college campus to entertain one spring. In 1983, Jay would graduate college from Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, with a double major Bachelor’s degree completed in Computer Science and Business.

After graduating college Jay began working in the IT department of JC Penny, where he worked for 17 years. He moved on to Pepsi Co/Frito-Lay IT department, where he spent another 17 years. There were some who wondered how a guy, who was totally blind, could possibly work in IT, but Jay soared in it. God blessed him with talents and abilities that were hard for others to understand. He used various technologies to help him get the job done. He had a passion for working with computers and electronics. He started out using an Opticon which read one letter at a time as he ran an optical device across the computer screen. Technologies improved and he used a Braille device that showed lines of type at a time, and then came speech software which read the screen aloud. Jay got used to listening to the output at such a high rate of speed that others who heard it could not believe he could understand what was being output! They would remark that it sounded like a foreign language never before heard! People were amazed at how he did his job. He was a hard worker and was lead on several projects. In addition to his work, he was a part of the Enable Group at Pepsi Co/Frito-Lay, which was an organization that recognized and had impact on people with different abilities… some with hearing challenges, those who used wheel chairs for various reasons, and others with different abilities. Jay also received the Harvey C. Russell Award which recognizes individuals who have shown themselves as extraordinary and serve as an inspiration to others.

On May 16, 1981 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Jay married the love of his life, Vicki L. Phillips. They spent 35 wonderful years together. Where Has the Time Gone, Jay? There you were at the student Union fountain that day; All long & lanky, red-haired,… “Hi, I’m Jay!” After some time, several friends formed a fun college crowd; We all hung out, did homework together, played music quite loud! Many months passed and our college crowd thinned down; Some married, dropped out, or moved out of town. But you and I are a remnant of that group; We kept it together and didn’t “fly the coop!” We were best of friends before many months passed; We didn’t know that a love was right around the corner that would forever last. One December day, you gave me your ring to go steady; But my mom said, “NO! He’s BLIND!” and suggested my feelings were just heady. She alllllllmost had me convinced my heart was all wrong; BUT, unknowingly then, GOD had been with us all along! At first I told you my mom was against it; Because of that fact both our hearts took a hard hit. When I saw how your heart broke from the deep sadness in your face; Through my own teary eyes, I KNEW that sadness I had to erase! For the first time in my life I made a huge decision; Though I knew that between my mom and me it would cause a big division. (Looking back) God had placed my freshman roommate as a matchmaker supreme; He helped her get us together though she thought it was her own scheme! So many things with us fell into place! And I DID make your sadness leave your sweet face! I swore that I never wanted to see you that sad again; So we’ve been “goin’ steady” 39 years and you’ve remained my best friend! God’s plans are the best when you just let love bloom and grow; I always said, “I’ll never marry!”, but it just wasn’t so! We’ve made soooo many memories through these 39 years; Now I think through them appreciatively with bittersweet tears. You have made our life beautiful, exciting, and fun; So glad God blessed me with you, my only one! Where has the time gone, Jay? Where did it go? Thank you for all our years together even these past 7 ¼ that dealt us a blow. God has taught us a LOT through these past several years; So please know they weren’t for naught though they brought many tears. If God’s miracle healing is your going home to Heaven; Don’t worry, we’ll see each other again! He’ll take care of you there and take care of me here; I will trust him to lead me, so I’ve no need to fear. You just relax here with me in these next days ahead; We’ve got God, friends, and family beside us, no dread. I love you, I love you, I love you some more; You needn’t worry about me when you enter Heaven’s door. There will be no more pain or sorrow there, you will SEE beauty galore!

And the best thing is that time will be no more. When someone asked Vicki’s dad if he thought Jay could take care of her, Vicki’s dad answered, “Oh, yeah, that boy has not one ounce of quit in him!”Many would refer to Jay as Jaybird, but Vicki had some special nicknames for Jay known only to the two of them. Their children were their three fur-babies Abby, Brook, and Daisy. The Macarty’s were blessed with a beautiful Godchild, April Burns, who stole their hearts at birth. Jay loved his wife, Vicki, with the totality of his heart in the way God would ask of a husband. He would have done anything for her, even though she felt she was not worthy of such love. Vicki loved Jay with the totality of her heart in the way God would ask of a wife. They have had fun all their lives and made the best of each day, even their hard days, with God always at the head. Throughout their marriage Jay’s love shone bright as he lived his life for God. Jay loved their little Boston terrier, Daisy, who will miss her beloved Daddy tremendously.

Jay was a multifaceted man; he even had his Ministry license and ran sound for churches. He was a good Christian man and had a special love for Second Chance Baptist Church.

Jay enjoyed many hobbies and interests, including reading, electronics, studying technology, biblical prophecies, apocalyptic studies, antique electronics, playing guitar and piano. His favorite color was royal blue. Jay loved to read books by American novelist, Louis L’Amour. A few of Jay’s favorite artists were actor Tom Hanks, singer Gary Wright, and music group Eagles. Jay enjoyed watching television series NCIS and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Some “Jayisms” many may remember would be, “Ya’ know?” or “Hi, y’ all.”

One of Jay’s favorite places was his glider on the patio where Vicki would read aloud while he added sound effects! Another favorite place for Jay was Galveston, Texas, he absolutely loved Galveston! He said it was the only place he could fully unplug and truly relax! He enjoyed the sound of the waves, the feel of the wet sand beneath his feet, the sound of the seagulls as they called out to each other, and the time spent, just Vicki and him, splashing in the waves waist-deep. They morphed into little children, laughing and giggling, as the waves pulled and tugged at them. What made Galveston even better, was being able to visit their niece, Lori, her husband, Cory, and their sweet doggies.

Jay is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents: Matthew H. Koonce and Fronia M. Koonce (Feemster), paternal grandparents: Frank M. Macarty and Lucille Mattieson, and his beloved fur-babies: Brook, Abby, and Zack, his beloved guide dog, who was with him his first year of college.

Jay is survived by his beloved wife: Vicki Macarty of Plano, Texas, fur-baby: Daisy Macarty of Plano, Texas, Goddaughter: April Burns (Jonathan) of Lake Dallas, Texas, parents: Lloyd T and Mary Jo Macarty of Muskogee, Oklahoma, sisters: Sherri Macarty of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Patti Adams (Roy) of Muskogee, Oklahoma, nephew: John Adams of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and special friends: Tim and Debbie Brand of Farmers Branch.

The Macarty family would like to extend special recognition to: all residents and staff at Preston Place, Facebook friends near and far, Pepsi Co/Frito-Lay, Texas Oncology, Faith Presbyterian Hospice, Second Chance Baptist Church and ALL family and friends.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in honor of Jay Lloyd Macarty to Texas Boston Terrier Rescue at TBTR 5819 Woodland Falls Kingwood, TX 77345 or http://www.texasbostonrescue.org/

Arrangements under the direction of Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, Dallas, TX.