John Jay Gailey

Feb. 21, 1957 - Dec. 19, 2008

John Jay Gailey entered eternal rest on Friday, Dec. 19, after a five-year battle with cancer.

He was a loving husband, caring and supportive father and grandfather, wonderful brother and son, and an unbelievable friend to all who knew him.

He was an outdoorsman to the fullest. He loved hunting, fishing, and calling wild turkeys. He was a lover of nature and he showed a deep appreciation and respect for the world around him.

He was an enthusiast of literature and music. Despite his eclectic ear for music, he was particularly fond of bluegrass and a devotee to Alison Krauss and Union Station.

John was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Jay Ray Gailey and Loretta Phillips on Feb. 21, 1957. He was the third of six children and Jay and Loretta's first son.

John spent his early childhood in Germany where the family was stationed due to Jay's service in the U.S. Air Force.

In 1961, the family relocated to Travis Air Force base in Fairfield. John's parents divorced in his early adolescence and John spent time both in Fairfield with his mother and in Santa Cruz with his father.

He had very fond memories of the time he spent on the beaches of Santa Cruz, but ultimately called the Fairfield-Suisun area his hometown.

John married Kathleen Kennedy on March 11, 1978. The couple welcomed their son, John Jr., that same year. Their daughter, Sara, was born the following year.

John was a loving father and the cook of the family. He made mealtimes for his children fun and exciting with inventions such as "cowboy supper."

John was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma on Feb. 5, 2004. He welcomed his first grandchild, Maxwell John Gailey, on Valentine's Day of the same year.

John considered Max his angel, a child sent here to help him through radiation and chemotherapy, and his fight with cancer.

John passed peacefully at his home with Kathy, John Jr., Sara, and Max by his side.

John is preceded in death by his nephew, Shon Waters, his mother and father-in-law, Harvey and Mary Kennedy, and by his brother-in-law and friend, Jim Kennedy.

John is survived by his wife, Kathy; his son, John Jay Gailey Jr. of Fairfield; his daughter and grandson, Sara and Maxwell Gailey of Suisun City; his father and stepmother, Jay and Esther Gailey of Santa Cruz; his mother, Loretta Hilgert of Fairfield; his brother-in-law and sister, Elaine and Mike Verketis of Grand Jucntion, Colo.; his sister, Margaret Pennington of Rocklin; his brother, David Gailey of Fairfield; his sister, Carol Gailey of Santa Cruz; his brother-in-law and sister, Marc and Irene Anemone of Santa Cruz; and his in-laws, the Kennedy family. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and numerous friends.

On behalf of John, the Gailey family would like to thank Kaiser Permanente Oncology, Urology, and Hospice for their amazing care and support.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Rockville Stone Chapel, 4219 Suisun Valley Road, Suisun, CA, 94534, on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 1 p.m.

An inurnment ceremony will follow at Rockville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are under the care of Bryan-Braker Funeral Home, 425-4697.