Jay C.M. Higgs, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Layton, Utah at the age of 85. His sudden passing has deeply saddened his family and friends.
Jay was born in Kaysville, Utah on September 12, 1940. He was the son of Christopher Moses Higgs and Florence Ann Hardman. He grew up in the Kaysville/Layton area and attended Davis High School where he was active in the band and the A Capella Choir.
Jay met his future wife Maurine Flint at a church dance, and their friendship blossomed into a lifelong partnership. They were married on September 16, 1960, in Layton, Utah and later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on December 10, 1994. Together they built a life in Salt Lake City, Bountiful, Centerville, and Layton, Utah.
He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jay found joy in serving others and visiting members of the ward.
His career included working in dry cleaning equipment manufacturing, Davis County Animal Control, and ultimately as a civil employee at Hill Air Force Base where he retired. Never one to sit still, Jay continued working for Kaysville City, contributing to various roles including street sweeping.
Jay was an amazing man of remarkable resilience and generosity. He was a man who lived outdoors and had many talents that he shared with friends and family. He served his community by fixing things for others. Later in his life, he earned the affectionate name “Duke” from new friends.
He was a member of the Davis County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse participating in search and rescue missions, parades, and riding events across Utah. After leaving the Posse, he joined the Westerners Riding Club and when it dissolved, he and his children founded the Lost Renegades Riding Club.
Jay’s hobbies were vast and often self-taught, which he passed down to his children. He built and restored wagons, buggies and vintage cars, crafted saddles, spurs, headstalls, reins, bits, and constructed horse trailers for several friends. He enjoyed roping, cow cutting, horseback riding, hay bailing, and worked part time as a Farrier in the Layton area. He also loved re-loading ammunition, target shooting, hunting, and couldn’t go without his coffee shop talk.
Jay enjoyed spending time with family celebrating birthdays, and holidays, camping, riding ATV’s, and traveling to places like Yellowstone, Washington, Oregon, Canada, Montana, Reno, and Hawaii with Maurine.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents; Christopher Moses Higgs and Florence Ann Hardman; and his siblings: Dell, Junior, Joseph, Jane, Bessie, Bertha, Arvel, Annie, Alice, Robert.
He is survived by his loving wife Maurine Flint; his children: Kim (Stacie), Trent (Lori), Troy (Heidi), Tamara (Greg) Manning, Randy, Cory (Staci), Amy (Justin) Boatright, Brian (Julie), Matthew, 19 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, siblings: Jerald, Allen, and Eugene.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah. Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the services at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah.
“Inheritance is not just money. Sometimes your father’s good reputation is enough, and wherever you go, you are told that your father was one of the best people”. Author unknown.
It would be greatly appreciated if family and friends could leave any memories of Jay on Lindquist’s website for future posterity.
Services will be live-streamed by going to www.lindquistmortuary.com and scrolling to the bottom of Jay’s obituary page.
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