Jay Thomas Masters

Jay was born in Royal Oak, Michigan on October 4, 1961, the oldest of three children of Thomas Masters and Barbara (Hinton) Masters. He graduated from Royal Oak Dondero High School in 1979 where his passion was playing drums in the high school band, the Dondero Pop Concert series and Interlochen Music Camp. Jay was a top ranking tennis player in the state as a member of the Dondero varsity tennis team and employed as a teaching pro at Red Run Country Club. He was a 1983 graduate of Michigan State University School of Business in the field of Materials and Logistics Management. He was an enthusiastic member of the MSU Marching Band from 1980-1981, where he would later claim to have paid closer attention to the play on the football field than anyone else in the band.

As a fresh college graduate, Jay ventured to Burlington, Vermont and the cutting edge world of IBM. He moved back to Michigan in 1984, working in Purchasing at Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories in Mason, where he met Marnie, the love of his life. In February 1987, he joined his forever work family at Wolverton Pet Supply (later called Phillips), where he was the Buyer until his retirement in 2018. During his three decades with the company he served as unofficial social director, running the Hack ‘n Whack Golf League, the Masters Invitational Golf Scramble, the newly renamed Jay Masters Memorial Fantasy Football League, and many social events large and small. He formed lifelong friendships with colleagues locally and throughout the pet industry.

Jay and Marnie (Margaret Anne Woods) married on November 1, 1986 and were soulmates for life. They welcomed son Zachary in 1989 and made a loving home in Grand Ledge (Wacousta). Jay was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather who took great pride in his son’s career in the Air Force and watching him start a family of his own. The addition of daughter-in-law Micah (Neiman) Masters and grandsons Colton and Parker brought him tremendous joy.

Jay was an accomplished outdoorsman who shared his passion for hunting and fishing with his friends and family. He was the founder of the Black River Flymasters and led their annual fly fishing trip to the family cabin in northern Michigan, his most cherished place on earth. Golf was a favorite pastime, the source of many great friendships and trophies. He was one of the most avid Spartan fans of the modern era, bleeding green and white. He took great pleasure in emailing updates and analysis of Michigan State athletics with a large audience of online followers. Jay picked up poker as a hobby late in life and enjoyed playing in a variety of tournaments. He enjoyed traveling to pursue these hobbies and shared many great trips with friends, family and particularly Marnie, who enabled him through all obstacles. Jay was revered for his wisdom and wide-ranging knowledge, serving as a mentor and advisor to many. He was loved for his kindness and infectious sense of humor.

Jay is survived and beloved by his wife Marnie, son Zach (Micah), grandsons Colton (4) and Parker (4 months), father Tom and stepmother Ann Masters, brother Craig (Amy) Masters, sister Libby (Kurt) Gross, nephew Jordan Masters, nieces Ravine Woods, Dori and Lexi Gross, and many dear cousins. His mother Barbara Masters and mother-in-law Peggy Woods preceded Jay in death.

A Celebration of Life for Jay will be held at the University Club of MSU (3435 Forest Road, Lansing, MI) on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm with a program of remembrance beginning at 1:30. Light refreshments will be included. Thank you to the medical professionals at the University of Michigan for their excellent care, despite their maize and blue heritage. Go Green!