Jay James Henderson

Jay J. Henderson was known as “Jimmy” throughout his youth – the kid exploring the hills of Chloride, Arizona, with his dog and a rifle. His family attended the town church there - still standing at 132 years old – where Reverend Nichols presided for a season, and the family came to Christ, remaining strong believers throughout their histories. Jay was born in nearby Kingman, to Jay William (JW) and Eliz (Alice) Gallegos Henderson, who had traveled from Texas seeking work at Hoover Dam where JW helped lay the foundations for the massive turbines. They later established a home in Chloride, as JW had gained the position of Millrite at one of the many mines dotting the mountain range. Jimmy watched with keen interest and learned much from his father’s work there, and a set of books “International Mechanical Principles” explaining all things hands-on engineering was his regular reading. When Jimmy was a junior in school the family moved to Henderson, Nevada, where JW was hired at Titanium Metals Corporation of America (TIMET) and Jimmy attended the last couple years of school at Basic High. He graduated with honors. Over that summer he dated and later married Kaye LaRene Davis of Henderson at The First Baptist Church where over the years he served as deacon, choir member, teacher, and assistant pastor. Around the time he married, he applied and tested for a coveted Lab Assistant position at TIMET’s Metallurgy Laboratory. He credited God with giving him the job - feeling he was turned aside due to his brown skin but was later that same day approached by the lab’s Senior Engineer who realized his skills and test scores were excellent. It was about this time Jimmy dropped the nickname and became Jay J. Henderson. Under appropriate engineering tutelage he designed, constructed, operated, collected data, and wrote research reports for most of the experiments at that lab over a few decades. During those years he and Kaye produced two boys, Jay Alan and David James. And in those years, he set up a photo lab in a spare room at the house on Copper Street, inviting the sons to assist him in wet development of his 35mm photography. Jay then also began a side career with the Nevada National Guard, where he received a significant amount of higher education, and over the years rose in rank to become a “Full Bird” Colonel. Having been the Commander of the state Guard since he was a Captain, the U.S. Army wisely recruited him for a full-time position at Forces Command (FORSCOM), Atlanta, Georgia. He served there with distinction, and in a couple of years was tagged for the “General’s List” with the next step being at The Pentagon. Jay declined that final career move because he couldn’t abide the politics and returned to Henderson, picking up at TIMET, but now in Management. He then retired at 55 and he and Kaye refurbished an old miner’s house in Ely, Nv. where they spent many summers enjoying cool breezes until Kaye passed on in January of 2012. His first son, Jay Alan, likewise passed in December of 2015. Jay then began a wonderful “second life” with a friend from Chloride, the old Reverend Nichols’ daughter, lovely Mae. They were married on December 14, 2012, and Jay melded into a strong and supportive family all settled in the Kingman area. He and Mae traveled a bit, Sedona was a regular autumn trip, and they cared dearly for each other as time pressed on. A daily routine with he and Mae was the morning devotional, with a Bible, and prayers for all the many children and grandchildren on both sides of the family. In these last years, Jay and Mae faithfully attended the local Baptist Church, Kingman First. Jay was also a faithful financial contributor and often supported several charities and individuals truly in need of assistance. Jay passed on to heaven quietly in his sleep, with surviving son David James at bedside and family nearby. Jay is survived by wife Viola Mae, son David James (Margaret “Helen”) (Jennifer Lea) Henderson, brother John “Johnny” (Sylvia) Henderson, and Jay Alan’s wife (Beautiful Melody) as dad often called her, Grandchildren he loved, Summer, Jay William “JJ”, Michael, Norina, Sarah, and Great-grandchildren loved also, Emma, Jackson, Jonathan, River, Valor, and Sophie. Also left behind are Mae’s outstanding and supportive children, William Nelson, David Nelson, Karen Otto, Jean Mohrmann, Joan Wesner, as well as all their children whom he also dearly loved. Preceded in death by his parents, JW and Alice Henderson, sister Wanda Leeann (James M) Odell (Terrance L) Supanik, and brother Carl (Martha Ann “Martie”) Henderson. Remembered by many others, too numerous and too humble to mention. Jay was an inspiration to live rightly and with enjoyment. A Celebration of Life will be held at Kingman First SBC, 3120 Hualapai Mountain Road, Kingman, AZ, 3-5pm February 7, 2025. A final military funeral will be scheduled for a future event with the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, NV.

Jay James Henderson

November 26, 1935 - January 19, 2025

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Jay James Henderson

November 26, 1935 - January 19, 2025

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support