[3] His father, a widower of three years, was found shot dead on June 4, 1931, at the age of 74.

He had been ploughing corn on his son's farm three miles west of Woodstock, and was found by a grandson, Billie Pence, lying next to a .22 calibre rifle.

[8] He served as commonwealth's attorney in Shenandoah County for eight years, and studied law while in this position.

[5] On June 23, 1948, Jay married Helen Avis Grimm.

His funeral was held three days later at Woodstock Lutheran Church,[3] and he was buried in Massanutten Cemetery.