Jay R. Dean, D.M.D. fought a long and very difficult battle at a local hospital. He had the courage to choose to go be with his Lord and Savior on April 17, 2011, beginning the greatest fishing trip and adventure of his life.

Jay was born in Nampa, ID, on January 14, 1934, the third of seven children, to John and Myrna Dean. They left Nampa to live in Pasadena, CA, where Jay started his athletic career by winning the city championship in baseball with his younger brother. They later moved to Palmdale, CA, before settling back in Nampa when Jay was 13.

Jay attended College High and transferred to Nampa High School mid-way through his sophomore year to play sports. While at Nampa, Jay played football, basketball, baseball, and track. His junior year, 1950, Nampa won State in football, basketball, and baseball. He also won State in the shot put and discus. His senior year, they won State in football and baseball losing only to Boise High while going for their 50th straight basketball win. In October of 2010, Jay was inducted into the Nampa High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He got to share this honor with his granddaughter, Kasey, who was inducted during the same ceremony.

After high school and forgoing several offers to play professional baseball, Jay attended Oregon State on duo basketball and baseball scholarships where he majored in pre-med. He was All-American 1st team selection in baseball in 1954 and 1955, was honored All-Northern Division three times and twice named to the NCAA All-Western Regional Team. Until 2005 this was Oregon State Universitys only World Series team. His basketball team was Pacific Coast Conference Champions in 1954-55. Despite suffering a setback when he got rheumatic fever early in his college athletics, he still holds the OSU Highest Career Batting Average Record at .379, including .465 as a senior and .456 as a junior, leading the Northern Division in 1955 with .545 and hitting over .600 in league games for much his junior and senior seasons. He later was inducted into the OSU Sports Hall of Fame. In 1960 Jay graduated from Dental School at the University of Oregon in Portland and started his career in Cassiar, British Columbia, Canada before returning to Nampa later that year to establish his practice at Holly Dental, retiring in 2002. In 1954 Jay married Billie Reger in Corvallis, OR, and they later divorced. In 1986, he married Jane Dickman Lazich in Turlock, CA, and they made their home in Meridian, ID.

Jay had an amazing love, respect, and passion for the outdoors. Fishing, hunting, skiing, golfing, boating, bird watching, and growing flowers fueled his spirit. He went on an annual Elk hunt in the Chamberlain Basin for over 30 years sometimes hiking out for miles to attend his sons football games before hiking back. You could often find Jay listening to albums of bird calls which he could proficiently imitate. Those who shared his outdoor experiences can attest to his unique endurance, sometimes being the first on the chairlift and the last off. His ski partners found it a mixed blessing when Bogus opened nights extending Jays opportunity to break his personal record of runs in one day. He was very involved and a member at Nampa First Church of the Nazarene where he was a Boy Scout leader for many years. Jay aspired to live his life with integrity and humility. He was a gentle giant who drew his strength from God. Everyone who was privileged enough to have known him was touched by the type of person he was and the character he had.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents, John and Myrna Dean, and his son John Dean. He is survived by his loving wife, Jane, his daughters Sammie (Ron) Bowen of Nampa, Corrie (Eric) Jeglum of Boise, and Janes children, Dan (Maribeth) Lazich of NH, Miriam (Jon) Norenberg of Modesto, CA, and Liz Lazich of Richmond, CA. Grandchildren are Fred Hooter, John (Tiffany) Ford, Kasey Hooter; Johnny Jeglum; Chris & James Lazich; and Tommy, Annie, & Amy Norenberg. Brothers are Carlyle (Janette) Dean of Phoenix, AZ, Mick Dean of Eugene, OR, Cal (Barbara) Dean of Lake Oswego, OR, and Lowell (Karen) Dean of Keiser, OR. Sisters are Brenita (Whitey) Johnson of Suquamish, WA, and Myrna (Jerry) Shaw of Whitney, TX. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will greet friends and family at a visitation and viewing on Friday, April 22. 2011 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel. There will be a memorial service to honor Jays life at Nampa First Church of the Nazarene at 11:00 a.m. on Sat., April 23, 2011. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Dr. Jay Dean Memorial Scholarship for pre-med students at Northwest Nazarene University, 623 So. University Blvd., Nampa, ID, 83686.

Service Information Visitation Friday April 22, 2011 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM