Jay W. Freels

Jay was born to the late Valjean and William Freels on September 5, 1947 in Portland. A 1965 graduate of Lake Oswego High School, Jay went on to attend Portland State University, where he participated on the track team. He transferred to the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he met Crystal “Chris” Cornell; they married on May 30, 1969. A few years after graduating and returning to Portland, Jay was hired at Freightliner as a specifications writer, where he worked for 35 years until retirement.

To know what Jay’s interests were, one simply had to look at what he wore on weekends: t-shirts celebrating the Oregon Ducks, Portland Trail Blazers and classic cars. For many years, he was a regular at local cruise-ins and car shows.

Jay also enjoyed watching sports, especially track and field, and he was a fan of science fiction novels; but more than anything, he was deeply devoted to his family and valued their time spent together. Since childhood, pets had been an important part of Jay’s life; the family home always included a cat, dog or both.

Jay is survived by his daughter Melissa and son Brandon; grandson Anst Jasmin; brother Rob of Tualatin; and brother Mark of Tigard. He was predeceased by his wife, Chris; his brother Randy; and his parents.

Jay will be interred at the Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Portland. Donations in Jay’s name can be made to the American Diabetes Association or any local animal rescue organization.

Arrangements under the direction of Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Portland, OR.