John Jay Matley

John Jay Matley

AGE: 83 ? formerly of Piscataway

John Jay Matley, formerly of Austin, Texas, and Piscataway, New Jersey, died of pneumonia on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, in Walnut Creek, California. He was 83 years old. Jay was born in East Conemaugh, Pennsylvania, on January 7, 1927. He and his younger brother, Ted made forts in the woods near their home, played baseball, and stuck together during both the good and tough times of their childhood. Jay graduated from East Conemaugh High School and became an Army private in 1945. Although he was assigned as a clerk-typist and never saw combat during World War II, he joked that as soon as the Axis powers found out he was on active duty, they would surrender (which they did). In 1949, Jay received his bachelor's degree in English from Iowa State University, where he met Bobbie. He said of his first meeting with her, "She was so beautiful; it was love at first sight." Bobbie's family was sure that he was the handsomest man she had ever dated. They married in May 1953. Shannon was born in Wichita, Kansas, and Jay, knowing how difficult it would be to support a family with an English degree, entered the chemical engineering program at Kansas State University in Manhattan and received his degree in May of 1956. He worked in that field with several companies, including Monsanto in Texas City. The family lived in Dickinson, Texas, and during that time Ted and Bruce were born. No father could have been more devoted to his children. Most nights he would read them to sleep, and he introduced them to the worlds of theatre, history, and mystery. After noticing how much Shannon loved Nancy Drew books, he gave her the Sherlock Holmes books, REAL mysteries. His children all remember him reading the Winnie-the-Pooh books to them, and Ted especially recalls his dad reading the end of the last book of the series, when Christopher Robin grows up and childhood ends. Jay loved the song Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof, which so accurately and beautifully describes the world of a parent. In 1965 Jay accepted a position as an editor at Chemical Engineering magazine in New York City, which enabled him to combine his English and chemical engineering backgrounds. He contributed to the books Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design, Vol. 43, and Sensors in Bioprocess Control, both of which we all tried to read but couldn't understand. Bruce was born with Down Syndrome, and Jay took a special interest in the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) of Raritan Valley (New Jersey), and served for many years in different roles, including the presidency. He had a close bond with Bruce and helped him achieve many goals and develop his sparkling personality. Jay always told Bruce that he was "Bruce the Best." Jay's grandson James was born in 2007 and granddaughter Gwen Claire in 2009. He loved them dearly, was very proud of them, and wanted so much to have more time with them.

He is survived by his daughter, Shannon of Smithville, Texas; son, Bruce of Taylor, Texas; and son, Ted and his wife, Rebecca and their children, James and Gwen Claire of Berkeley, California. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Ted and Audrey Matley, of Saratoga Springs, New York. In addition, he is survived by many loving in-laws, nieces, and nephews around the country. Jay was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara (Bobbie); his parents, John and Mary; and his son-in-law, Joseph Bricking. We will miss our dad, grandfather, brother, and uncle. Flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Jay would be pleased with donations in his name to the ARC of the United States, 1010 Wayne Ave., Suite 650, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.