James "Jay" Pease

James "Jay" Pease was called home by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, October 15, 2012 following a battle with cancer. Jay was born in Cody, Wyoming to Charlie and Katie Pease on June 5,1955. Jay’s dad was worked in the oil business and took his family to live overseas for several years. As a result, Jay lived in Kuwait Arabia, Johannesburg South Africa, and London, England. Jay saw all this as a great learning opportunity that helped shape his life. Eventually, they landed in Odessa, TX and of all places, stayed put. He graduated from Permian High School in 1974. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UTPB in 1978 and an MBA from Texas Tech University in 1981.

After graduating college, Jay became a financial adviser and eventually became co-owner of a Raymond James Financial Services branch office with his partner, Steve Hurt. He was a devoted follower of Christ and was a member of First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, as the Sunday School teacher for the Bible Book Class, and on several different church committees. Jay also became a part of his community by serving on the Board of the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Odessa for several years and on the Board of the Firemen’s Pension Fund Board, where he became its longest serving member.

Anyone who knew Jay soon figured out that he was an avid sports fan. In fact, there was no such thing as too much sports for him. Prior to his injury, Jay was an accomplished athlete earning letters in soccer, diving, and wrestling. At seventeen, he became the first member of his golf-playing family to get a hole-in-one. It was also the first hole-in-one at the new Olive Green Golf Club in Cody, Wyoming. After coming to Odessa, he was even going to try his hand at football by using his soccer skills to become the kicker. Just because Jay could no longer do sports himself after his injury, he was not done with participating in sports. He began with coaching divers at Permian for a time and eventually began coaching his nephews in soccer and basketball, which he did for about 12 years. He was a devoted Mojo football fan and Texas Tech football fan – weather nor distance kept him from games. He also became the voice of Permian basketball when he began announcing boys’ and girls’ varsity games about 4 years ago.

Jay is survived by Judy Feeler Pease, his loving wife of 33 years. They were married on January 6, 1979 in Odessa, TX. While he had no birth children, God blessed him with a daughter and a son. He is survived by daughter, Judy Moss (Robert) of Ft. Worth, grandchildren, Sydney and Brady Moss of Ft, Worth, and nephew, Jeff Bush, whose ‘shared son” relationship was graciously blessed by his sister-in-law, Melody Bush. He is also survived by his mother, Katie Pease, of Odessa, TX and two sisters, Toni Gern (Fred) of Granbury, TX and Sheryl Meyer (Nino) of Odessa, TX. He was the proud uncle to his surviving nieces Shannan Meyer, Tanisha Steadman, Natalie Chapman (Jeff), Rachel Feeler and Adrianne Bush and nephews Tanner Davis (Kim), Dylan Meyer, Derrick Bush (Marcy), Kelan Stamper, Chase Feeler (Melody), Dodge Feeler(Brooke), and Ross Feeler as well as a growing number of great nieces and nephews..

He is also survived by sisters-in-law Melody Bush and Carole Ann Hunton, and by brothers-in-law: Jim Stamper, Larry Feeler, Billy Feeler (Lori), David Hunton, Calvin Rucker (Krel), and Dennis Rucker. He leaves behind the many who called him friend.

There will a visitation will be Wednesday, October 17, 2012 from 6-8pm at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Home. A memorial service has been set for 2pm Thursday, October 18, 2012, at First Baptist Church in Odessa with Dr. Byron McWilliams officiating. . In lieu of flowers, Jay requests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 4553, Odessa TX 79761 or Coaches Honor, PO Box 51139, Jacksonville Beach FL 32240-1139 or a charity of your choice.

Services are under the direction of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors.