Jay E. Steed

Jay was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jay served hil fellowmen & women with a heart dedicated to service & love. He was a current member of the East Wenatchee Columbia Hills Ward and was the first Bishop to serve the East Wenatchee Second Ward. He had a special love for printing and photography. His photography led him to make slide shows for Seminary as well as weddings. He could fix anything and his grandchildren grew to rely on him for repairs. He was always a service oriented helper and had a knack for always being at the right place at the right time. Jay E. Steed, 92, a 47 year East Wenatchee resident and longtime businessman, passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at Central Washington Hospital. He was born on February 4, 1921 at Clearfield, Utah to the late Charles Elmer and Florence Mabel (Flint) Steed. He grew up and completed his elementary schooling at Clearfield prior to attending Davis High School at Kaysville, Utah. He graduated from Davis High School in 1939. Following the completion of high school, Jay along with one of his brothers, purchased and operated a grocery store in Clearfield. During WWII, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as a Crewmember and Armor Gunner aboard B-24 Bombers in the European Theater. He served with the 15th Airborne and completed 32 missions. Their plane was shot down behind enemy lines in Italy and although one crewman was badly injured, Jay refused to leave him behind. He sprinkled the wound with sulfa powder and bound him with tape then carried him for a full day until they met up with the rest of the crew, who then took turns carrying him and made it out. While he was on furlough, he was married to Patricia "Pat" Herbert on October 6, 1945 at Clearfield, Utah. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple on May 14, 1965. He received his honorable discharge on November 6, 1945 and they continued to make their home together in Clearfield, Utah for the next four years. They moved to Ely, Nevada, where Jay became the General Manager for the Ely Daily Times, managing the printing of their daily and weekly newspapers. Over the next several years, he managed the commercial print shop and stationary store, they later purchased Hilltop Drug Store and he operated a Television repair shop in the back of the store. He also started a photography studio out of the basement of their home, where he did sittings for weddings and high school graduation photos. He received his private pilot's license and owned a Cessna 172. In 1966, they moved to East Wenatchee and they started their own printing business "Commercial Printing". Jay and Pat operated Commercial Printing together until selling their company in 1973. Jay went to work at Dolco Packaging, where he worked as their Printer and Mechanic. While working for Dolco, he constructed a printing machine which later received a patent. During this same time, Jay also constructed a print shop behind their home that was known as "J's-Litho. Following his retiring from Dolco Packaging, he continued working his print shop from home. His worked on his last job just four months ago. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Pat Steed, East Wenatchee; their three children and spouses, Vicki Lyn & Ted Brisbine, Wenatchee, Craig H. & Ruth Steed, Lehi, Utah and Karen & Ronald Babst, East Wenatchee; one sister, Verla Olsen, Clearfield, Utah; 18 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Patsy Steed in August of 1949, two grandsons, Timothy J. Blackmore and Jacob Jefferson Brisbine; 7 brothers and sisters, Ronald, Wilkie, Jerro, Don, Charlene, Doris & Lynn Steed. A Service of Commemoration will be held on Thursday, May 9th at 10:30 a.m. at the East Wenatchee Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center, 667-10th Street N.E., with Bishop Jim Boynton Presiding. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:30 on Thursday at the church. A Concluding Service and Dedication of the Grave will be held in Clearfield, Utah. You are invited to visit his tribute online at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com . Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.

Jay E. Steed

February 4, 1921 - May 4, 2013