- Date Of Birth: December 17, 1933
- Date Of Death: January 18, 2011
- State: Idaho
Jay W. Durfee
Jay W. Durfee, 77, of Gooding passed away on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 after a sudden heart attack.
Jay was born in Almo, Idaho on December 17, 1933, the 12th child of Anna Abby and Lorenzo Durfee. His early youth was spent in Almo where he developed a lifelong love of horses while riding in the City of Rocks. He graduated from Heyburn High School in 1952.
In 1953 Jay married Sharma Helen Roy in the Idaho Falls Temple. He attended Ricks College where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He began a 39 year career as a high school teacher and coach. He taught in Wendell, Winchester, Bliss and then spent 10 years in Baker City, Oregon. In 1974 they moved back to Gooding where he taught and coached until 1995. Over the years Jay affected the lives of many students and athletes. He had an uncommon ability to interact with students and he was a beloved coach and teacher to many.
Jay loved to ride his horses in the hills and spent years with friends and family in places like Copper Basin, the White Clouds, the Sawtooths and Soldier Mountain area. After years of unsuccessful elk hunting the family teased him about his annual fall elk rides. In November of 2010 he followed the example of his daughter, sons, grandsons and granddaughters and finally was able to fill his first elk tag.
Jay is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sharma Helen Roy Durfee. Children, Scott (Pauli) Durfee of Rexburg, Kevin (Rhonda) Durfee of Springfield, Oregon and Karen (Kevin) Stewart of Rigby. Grandchildren, Shawn (Stacey) Durfee of Payson, Utah, Ryan (Emily) Durfee of Rexburg, Arik (Anna) Durfee of Idaho Falls, Melissa (Tracen) Peterson of Salt Lake City, Chad (Jessica) Durfee of Springfield, Oregon, Tyler Stewart of Salt Lake City, Lindsay (David) Marchant of Springfield, Oregon, Keersten (Jake) Goss of Idaho Falls, Hailey Durfee who is serving a mission in West Virginia, Jason (Alise) Durfee of Idaho Falls, Kacy Durfee of Springfield, Oregon, Stephanie Stewart of Salt Lake City, Chase Stewart who is serving a mission in Paraguay, Abby Stewart of Rigby; and seventeen great grandchildren. Surviving brothers and sisters include, Aileen (Lyman) Jensen of Sequim, Washington, Naomi (Wallace) Reed of Bountiful, Utah, Doris Gibbons of Gooding, LaRae Taylor of Ogden, Utah, Walter (Kenna) Durfee of Burley, Louis (Barbara) Durfee of Gooding and Bernus Waite of Gooding. Survivors also include many nieces and nephews and many from the Roy family to whom he was a brother.
Jay was loved and respected by friends and family.
