Jay Preston Griggs

Jay Preston Griggs  Jay P. Griggs, age 74, passed away October 24, 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  He was born November 19, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah to James Preston and LaVern Andrews Griggs.  Jay was the oldest son of nine children. He spent his youth in Driggs, Coltman, and Ucon, Idaho. He graduated from Ammon High School. He enjoyed the great outdoors, playing basketball, fishing, golfing, trapshooting, piloting his own plane, and hunting.  He served in the United States Air Force for three years before returning to Idaho Falls where he married Lois Fields; later divorced. Jay enjoyed many careers which included sales in real estate, insurance, retail and wholesale music, and trap and field. Jay taught himself to play golf and received his professional status and maintained this throughout his life. He was the head golf professional at the Rexburg, Idaho Municipal Golf Course and Craig Ranch Golf Club in Las Vegas, NV. He loved being a golf professional and teaching golf to his family and friends. He once said "being a golf professional was the highlight of my life." He also served as Elders Quorum President, home teacher, and stake missionary in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jay was married to Joan Chesbro for 24 years. They raised three children and traveled extensively on business and family vacations. He worked as retail manager and assisted with music dealer visits for 17 years at Chesbro Music Co. headquartered in Idaho Falls, ID. They were later divorced. Jay married Patricia Strong, November 24, 1982. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Ogden LDS Temple. Jay invented and patented a gun recoil device for rifles and shotguns. Together they developed and promoted his invention at trap clubs, gun shows, and various sporting events throughout the United States. Patricia served as a loving companion and caregiver to Jay as his health declined.  Survivors include wife, Patricia; children, James Preston (Bonnie) Tenney, Scott Chesbro (Marina) Griggs, Tana Jane (Dan) Stahn, Vanetta (Kent L.) Wilson; brothers and sisters, Alan (Ann) Griggs, Bernice (Varr) Nelson, Jeanette (RJ) Davies, Vaughn (Linda) Griggs, and MaryLou (Don) Schroeder; and many grandchildren, step children, and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Maxine and brother Burton. Jay loved God, his family, and friends. To him people were just friends he had not yet met.  Funeral Services will be held Monday, October 28, 12:00 noon at the Millcreek 2nd Ward, 4220 South 420 East (off 5th east). Visitation Sunday, Oct. 27, 6-8 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 S. Redwood Road, and Monday, Oct 28 , 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. at the church. Internment: Mountain View Memorial Estates.