Obituaries

Jay W. Schmoll, 78, passed away on February 11, 2021 in Plano, TX. 

Jay was a humble man who cared about his family and often took the role of being the peacemaker at home and at work. Jay was always there when friends and family needed him.

As a young man, Jay was proud to be a shot-put champion and a sprinter on his high school track team and a running back on his freshman football team. He served his country in the Marine Corps and could often be heard saying “ooh rah!”  Afterwards he went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Business at Oregon State University.

Jay loved to support his wife (he was her #1 dishwasher and taste-tester), daughters (bowling coach, soccer coach, choir attendee, horse shows and more), and of course his grandchildren by attending their events and becoming the first middle school WatchDog in Keller ISD!

Jay was charming, loved dancing, watching Star Wars, football, soccer, Aussie-Rules football games on TV, and John Wayne movies. He would recite his favorite poem to anyone with ears, even during brain surgery!  There was always a story he could tell you, even if you’d heard it twice. You were never strangers long with Jay, as he always loved having someone new to tell stories to. He had subtly sarcastic comments ready for any occasion. He had a wonderful grin when he would take the literal fresh out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookies off the tray before it even made it to the counter for cooling (he insisted they were best right off the tray). His later years were unfortunately spent more in hospitals, but the nurses always loved him, even when he was in timeout at the nurse’s stations, which likely worked more in his favor than theirs.

His Parkinson’s diagnosis deterred him only physically for many years. He was smart, had a sense of humor, and a stubborn old man. Those of us who knew him, could tell you that his stubbornness is what got him this far into his diagnoses. He was full of love and never knew a stranger. We are lucky and blessed to have known him and he will be greatly missed.

Jay is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Diane, his brother Lynn (Cheri), his daughters Carolyn (Tim), Diana (Curtis) and Allison (Josh), his 3 grandchildren, Nathan, Jacob and Natalie, and many family members across the country. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Bea, and his son Scott.

If you would like to donate a gift in honor of Jay, the family requests any donations are sent to the following as they were dear to him:

• Parkinson Voice Project: https://www.parkinsonvoiceproject.org/
• Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society (DAPS): https://daps.us/
• Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church: https://www.canyoncreekpres.org/give