Joan Elaine Jay

Joan Elaine Jay (Martens), age 80, passed away in Brighton, Colorado on Sunday, December 27, 2020.  She contracted COVID in November, survived through it, but it took a toll on her already compromised health status.

Born on October 6th, 1940 in Denver, the daughter of Herbert F. Martens and Dorothy May Martens (Murray).  Joan spent her childhood and young adult life in Edgewater Colorado with her two younger brothers Henry (Hank) Martens and Pat T. Martens.

In 1959 she married Edward Earl Jay of Greeley Colorado and lived in Wheat Ridge and Arvada until 2000 when they moved to Cedaredge Colorado and finally Grand Junction Colorado.

She is survived by her son Gary Jo Jay of Grand Junction Colorado and daughter Sherri Jo Johnson (Timothy Lynn Johnson) of Brighton Colorado, granddaughter Heather Renae Gonzales, and two great granddaughters, Angelica Marie Gonzales and Erika Marie Gonzales.

Joan was mostly known for her great sense of humor and love for fishing, camping and anything related to sports. As an early teenager she enjoyed playing on the girls softball team and was on a bowling league in Wheat Ridge and Arvada for years. She loved teaching her son Gary how to play catch and pitch. Baseball was her passion but she loved football too. She was very creative and owned her own custom drapery business before going to work at Coors after the kids were older. When she became a grandmother she chose to quit the job and help raise her granddaughter who she cared for and loved very deeply.

Joan was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and homemaker. She touched the lives of so many people throughout the years. Many friendships were created through the hot rod car clubs and the train club. She and Ed worked together for several years to build two hot rods, the last a 1927 Ford Model T. What a cool ride! Several years were also spent on the model train collection and layout. After Ed retired they took lots of long road trip vacations in the motor home with close friends just exploring new states and finding fun. She was always good at finding fun.

Gone but never forgotten. Joan is resting in peace now with Ed and their ashes will be combined and spread in Glenwood Canyon on the anniversary of their wonderful marriage, May 2nd, 2021. Details to follow.

Donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association and or Alzheimer’s Association Research.

In memory of Joan, please listen to this wonderful song by Alison Krause: I'll Fly Away

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