Jay Haskill Shurtliff age 77 of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan died of a heart attack Thursday, Dec. 23, 1999 at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center in Salt Lake, Utah.
Jay was born on June 25, 1922 in Ogden, Utah, the son of Wilford Haskill Shurtliff and Carlie Eliza Redd Shurtliff. After growing up in Salt Lake City, he enlisted and served throughout World War II in the Coast Guard. While attending the University of Utah he met and married Rachel Louise Allred on Sept. 3, 1948 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Hereceived his Bachelors and Masters of Fine Arts Degrees from the University of Utah, after which he taught in the Jordan School district for fifteen years before becoming a full Professor of Arts at Central Michigan University in Mt Pleasant, Michigan. In 1986 after teaching for 36 years he retired and then served two years at the L.D.S. Temple in Chicago, Illinois. His kindness, sincerity and patience are qualities that were evident to all that knew him and enabled him to be a naturally gifted teacher. Excellent in many art forms he was an accomplished artist that took joy in sharing his interests with others. Through his good sense of humor, his generous and gentle manner, people were drawn to him and he enjoyed many lasting friendships. He was a devoted husband, father and active church member.
He was survived by his wife Louise and four children, Cindy Lu Hills, Carla Louise Jimison (Robert), Lavana Ann Shurtliff and Jay Haskill Shurtliff, Jr. as well as seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is also survived by sister, Norma Foresberg; and brothers, Lyman Shurtliff and Keith Shurtliff; and many nieces and nephew. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother Harold, and sister Janet Lewis.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 am on Monday January 3, following a viewing at 10 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sandy 2nd Ward, 8650 South 220 East. A service and interment will be held in Michigan.