Jay Lytton Obituary

On Veterans Day this year the world lost a gentle, humorous, faithful, giving, brilliant star. Leslie Jay Lytton....We are deeply saddened by this loss but so relieved that he is finally at peace and blowing some awesome tunes with his friends and family in the clouds. Music was what Jay was all about. Jay always enjoyed listening to every type of music with favorites being jazz, classical, new age, rock, and most of all Celtic. He was an accomplished musician and excelled at playing Sax and Clarinet. From Jr. & Sr. High school on Jay was first chair in band and won many medals for both solo and ensemble performances. He enlisted in the Army and passed the rigorous requirements and auditions necessary to become part of the prestigious Army band during the Vietnam war era. He was stationed in Stuttgart Germany and performed in many concerts for the public and even floating down the Rhine on a concert barge. This likely saved his life. Jay was honorably discharged and he began playing music as part of a local band and performed with the Daytona Beach Civic Orchestra as well. His career spanned jobs like drug store assistant manager, pharmacy auditor, safety officer, irrigation systems installation, Licensed Firearms Dealer, and his last position was as the National Training Manager for Lake Chemical Company in Chicago, IL. Jay was an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy as well as historical and biographical literature. We hope Anne McCaffrey, Orson Scott Card, Isaac Asimov, and many more of his favorite authors realized how they expanded Jay's world. His wit was sharp and his demeanor was charming, caring, and pleasant as everyone that met him knows. He loved to smoke a fine cigar or bowl of tobacco, eat a great meal, groove on tunes, go to concerts, play racquetball, shoot his guns and just sit around and talk about anything that came up. Jay was a giving individual that would literally give the shirt off his back and any money he had to help someone out. Jay struggled with mental health issues for many years and even wrote a book while in the Skilled Nursing Home system in Colorado aided by one of his favorite people on the nursing Staff, Fran James. The title of his book is: "I Don't March to the Beat of a Different Drummer I'm the Whole Band." It chronicles his journey navigating the shoals of the mental health system at the time and provides a keen insight into the mind of our dear brother. Jay is survived by his only brother Jim Lytton, Firestone, CO, Sister-in-Law, Elyn Lytton, Firestone, CO, Nephew, Seth Lytton, Boulder, CO, Seth's Wife, Neely Quinn, Boulder CO, and Nephew, Alan Lytton, Ft. Collins, CO. A special thank you goes out to Jay's Cousins, Donald & Hilda Lytton, Las Vegas, NV, who will have a special place in heaven for their loving decades' long support for Jay. Jay is predeceased by his Mother, Lillian Lytton, Daytona Beach, FL, Colorado Springs CO, Father, Dr. Charles M Lytton, Ormond Beach, FL, and Step-Mother, Barbara Lytton. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers you purchase copies of Jay's book and give it to those that may be struggling with mental health issues themselves. All proceeds will be donated to Agape Hospice who provided untold support to Jay and our family when we most needed it. Agape Hospice can be reached at: https://www.agape-healthcare.com should you wish to make a direct donation in honor of Jay. There will be no memorial for Jay but the family would love to hear from any and all friends that knew Jay. Feel free to contact us on Facebook, [email protected] ,or 303-775-8288 if you just want to talk. Mailing address is: 10490 Deerfield Street, Firestone, CO 80504. With tears of sadness and joy we wish you a safe journey, Jay.