(Clell) Jay Peterson
Born: December 4, 1912, Loa, Wayne County, Utah
Died: June 14, 2006, Logan, Cache County, Utah
Jay Peterson was born December 4, 1912 in Loa, Utah, to Thomas Jerid Peterson and Margaret Ellen Taylor. He came into a family of two older boys and later was the older brother to three sisters and two other brothers. Growing up in Loa he trapped for hides and loved sports, playing baseball and going with Wayne High School to the state basketball tournament one year. He also drove the school bus and was student body president at Wayne High.
At age 15 he followed his older brother Lloyd to California and began working for a logging company during the summers and then the U.S. Forest Service. Winters were spent back in Loa finishing high school. The first years’ transportation method to and from California was by freight train, then later by motorcycle.
Jay married Lydia Buchanan of Teasdale, his high school sweetheart, on February 15, 1935, and they enjoyed each other for over 70 years until Lydia’s passing last year. Their family grew to five with the addition of Kathy, Teri and Tom.
Jay continued working for the U.S. Forest Service and he would eventually record 42 years of service, retiring as the Chief Fire Control Officer for all the national forests in California.
When World War II started, Jay enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December 1942 and was assigned to the Navy Seabees. He served on several Pacific Islands, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Office. His group was in preparation for the assault on Japan when the war ended. After the war Jay attended BYU, played baseball and graduated.
Upon retirement, Jay and Lydia returned to live in Loa and served in a variety of community and LDS Church positions including president of the Senior Citizens and on Loa Stake’s High Council. They later located in Midvale.
Jay now joins his dear wife as they continue their journey together forever. We will miss his humor, his friendship and his love.
Services Information:
Viewing: Saturday, June 17, 12 noon, Loa Ward LDS Building
Services: Saturday, June 17, 1:00 pm, Loa Ward LDS Building
Gravesite: Loa Cemetery, Wayne County
Funeral Directors, Allen-Cranney Mortuary, North Logan, Utah