Jay Alexander Erwin, Jr.

Jay Alexander Erwin, Jr., of Marsing, Idaho, died on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at age 80. He was born June 23, 1938, in San Jose, California. His father was James “Jay” Alexander Erwin, and his mother was Shirley Virginia McCann Erwin. He was the second of their three children.

Jay grew up on the Erwin Ranch in Humboldt County, California. He was a licensed racehorse trainer and certified farrier, managed service stations and motels in New Mexico and Arizona, was a reproductive biology program manager in Washington, and served as an animal control officer in Idaho. He served in the United States Air Force as a radar specialist, and was stationed in Texas, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Alaska.

He is survived by Barbara Erwin, his wife of more than fifty years, and three children-- Prescott Jay Erwin of Louisville, KY, Paul Wesley Erwin of Coeur d’Alene, ID, and Jennifer Erwin Ray, of Calgary, Alberta, and their spouses, respectively, Nikki, Shannon, and Norman. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Helen Gay Erwin, who died in 1982, as well as her daughter Tricia Gay.

In addition to his four children, Jay had five grandchildren, Joshua and Jordan Erwin, Ella Kay and Tate Alexander Erwin, and Tricia Gay, along with two great-grandchildren Bradley Fox and Ella Jay Erwin. His sister, Shirley Rebecca “Becky” Erwin Glazener, age 85, lives in Blacksburg, Virginia, and his brother, Joseph “Joe” Marvin Erwin, age 77, (and wife, Nancy) lives near Needmore, Pennsylvania. He is also survived by nieces Diane and Kristin and their children, and a nephew, Kendrick.

Jay was a man of great faith and a member of the Assemblies of God church Christian Faith Center in Nampa, Idaho. He participated in constructive activities with The Promise Keepers. He valued nature, cared deeply for animals, and treated other people with respect and consideration. He will surely be missed by all who knew him.       

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