Obituary of Lance Anthony Jay

Captain Lance Anthony Jay was born to Captain Robert Joseph Jay and Carol Jean Jay on August 2, 1960 in Salina, Kansas and was reunited with his Heavenly Savior on July 9, 2021. Being a proud Texan, he always pointed out that he may have been born in Kansas, but was born on an Air Force base to Texas parents, therefore he was a true Texan. After losing his father at an early age, God blessed him with a second father in Travis Jones.As a young boy, Lance and his brothers spent much of their time pretending to be soldiers when they weren’t playing baseball. During his high school years he discovered a passion for rodeo and joined the Paschal Rodeo Team where he became a bull rider and bull dogger. After graduating from high school Lance continued his education at Tarrant County Junior College which led to earning a full ride Air Force ROTC scholarship to TCU. In 1983 Lance graduated with his Bachelor of History degree and proudly entered the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant. He was a member of SAC (Strategic Air Command) and his primary specialty was Missile Operations Officer. He earned a Master of Criminal Justice degree at Missouri State University in 1988.In 1989 Lance became a Public Affairs Officer and was promoted to Captain. He was deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, (Gulf War) where he served as the direct Public Affairs Officer for General Charles A. Horner. When he returned stateside, he served as the final Public Affairs Officer for Carswell Air Force Base before its closing. Lance served nine (9) years active duty and eleven (11) years inactive reserves.They say that it isn’t the beginning date or the end date of your life that counts but it is the dash between those dates that tells the real story. Lance’s dash was full of diversity. From a young age he loved playing, watching and even coaching sports. He was a diehard fan of the Texas Rangers, Minnesota Vikings and all TCU sports. He was so proud to call Fort Worth his home and even wrote a book that he titled Cowtown Detective. No matter where he lived he always called Texas his home for that was where his heart was. Throughout his life he had a very eclectic work history that took him from military officer to Deputy Sheriff, Security Officer, Dispatcher, Newspaper Reporter, Taxi Driver, Author, Actor, Singing Waiter, Salesman and School Teacher. He also was an entrepreneur as part owner of VBL Enterprises with his brother Robert and sister Valerie. Anyone that knew Lance knew that making people laugh was one of his greatest joys. He loved the eye rolls as much as the laughs that he received from his jokes. He was the best at telling really bad dad jokes. His acting and singing were two of his greatest passions in life and he fulfilled his dream of being in a movie (Walking Tall – The Payback), on television (Prison Break and multiple commercials) and creating a CD of his favorite songs.Lance had an enormous love for all of his family but his three greatest loves were his son Austin, his daughter Sierra and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There has never been a father more proud of the adults that his children have become and all that they have accomplished. He also was happy that Austin had Marie and Sierra had Tyler to share their lives with. If there was only one thing that Lance would definitely want you to know about him it is that he had accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and therefore you can rest assured that he is happy in heaven even as we mourn his loss here.He is survived by his children Austin Jay (Marie) and Sierra Jay (Tyler), his sisters Valerie Jay Willing, Angela Jay and Carolyn Kelley (Darryl), nephew Ben Kelley (Megan), niece Christina Kelley, niece/goddaughter Ashley Jay, great nieces Shana and Brittney Allen and great nephews Samuel and Robert Kelley. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert Jay, Carol Jay Jones, step-father Travis Jones, and his brothers Robert Jay and Anthony Terranova.