Jay Duncan McIntosh

Jay Duncan McIntosh, son of the Great Depression and decorated member of the Greatest Generation, died June 29, 2019 at age 98. He was born in Clarkston, Washington and grew up on a Palouse wheat ranch, graduating from Lewiston HS. He earned a BS in Agriculture from the University of Idaho in 1942 and by November of that year was on active duty training as a B-17 bomber pilot in the 8th Air Force, 94th Bomb Group. He piloted 35 combat missions over France and Germany out of Bury St. Edmonds in England and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters. In 2015, the government of France awarded him the Legion of Honor, its highest order of merit, for services to French Resistance fighters.

Later in life he gathered with members of his flight crew for many reunions; their respect and love for him was palpable. They reveled in telling how, during WWII bombing missions, this 23-year old had saved their lives and brought them home safely.

Jay met and married Annie Laurie Kennedy of Mobile, Alabama in 1945 and came West to work at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Richland, Washington where he spent 40 years as a chemist and manager, ultimately in the Plutonium/Uranium Extraction (PUREX) plant. Annie Laurie died young of a stroke and he then married Carol Hebert in 1972. This brought the blended family to ten children, growing to 30 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

In the 1970’s he finally returned to his passion - agriculture – and grew apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, and berries at Sun-Ray Orchards in Benton City, Washington. He shared the ‘fruits' of his labors at the farm, which was the gathering place for extended family for over 15 years. He also re-ignited a secret love he had for horses, raising and riding three over the years.

He and Carol then moved to Lincoln City, Oregon and built a house by the sea, enjoying it with many guests for a dozen years before moving to Beaverton, Oregon where his house was known as ‘Grampie’s Road House’ because he generously welcomed extended family.

He leaves behind children Kathy, John, Doug, Steve, Larry, Ginnie, Jerry, Laura, Carole, and Jean. Jay put family above all other values and was the hub of the family wheel. He was rarely seen without a camera around his neck and made sure family events were documented and shared.

We will all miss his generosity, his wry wit, his goodness and great humility. We realize that a huge part of our lives has now changed, leaving a huge void. He was so quiet in his ways, it is hard to comprehend what an enormous impact he really had on us.

Jay had a life-long love of the outdoors and supported environmental conservation. In lieu of flowers, you can donate to his favorite charity, “1000 Friends of Oregon” (https://friends.org/donate).