Jay C. Eggleston

On November 26, 2010, Jay C Eggleston, age 91, returned to the welcoming arms of his adoring sweetheart, Merle Christiansen Eggleston & his parents. There was a wonderful reunion in heaven. Jay was born November 24, 1919, in Cornish, Cache County, Utah, the ninth child of Walter and Emma Ethel Call Eggleston. His mother passed away when he was not quite 3 years old. The void was filled by his father's new wife, Lillian Baxter. As he grew to love his new mother, he also grew to love the two new brothers who shortly joined the family. His childhood and youth were spent on the family farm. He moved to Pocatello with his family in time to graduate from Pocatello High School in 1938. He served a mission in the Southern States Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before being deployed as a Marine during World War II, he met and fell in love with his sister-in-law's sister, Merle Christiansen. Shortly after his discharge at the end of the war, they were married in Los Angeles, California, on Dec. 3, 1945. They were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple on their way to make their home in Pocatello in January. Pocatello was to be their home for the remainder of their married life, except for short stays in Idaho Falls and Twin Falls, Idaho. They were blessed with five children, Ann Atchley (Dan) of Pocatello, Chris (Cindy) of Heyburn, Peggy Lee (Greg) of Mesa, Arizona, Sheila Howe (Rich) of Pleasant View, Utah, and Rod (Janyce) of Pocatello. Many years were spent in church service in the Pocatello First Ward where Jay served in various callings, including bishop and high councilor. He took his son, Chris, and they helped build the new first ward building on Grant Street. When he was Elder's Quorum President, the ward sold eggs to help the budget. When he served as bishop, they paid off the new first ward building. As the agent bishop of the building, he taught his children to care for the building and to make sure it was properly cleaned each time before they left it. After serving a mission with Merle to the Michigan Lansing Mission, they moved to the Indian Hills Ward. He and Merle quickly became the beloved grandparents for their neighborhood. One of Jay's proudest moments was when he and Merle set up a perpetual science scholarship at Idaho State University. Jay worked until retirement for the Mountain Bell Phone Company which later became Qwest. He started as a lineman and with only the schooling provided by the phone company became an engineer. While working in Preston, a young girl grabbed a power line that was on the roof of his hotel with both hands and could not let go of it. Jay was a hero and got her off the line, saving her life. Along with a few other men, he helped with the conversion from dial tone to touch tone that took place in each of the company buildings all over southeastern Idaho. When the Teton dam broke, he helped restore telephone service to the area. While working at Mountain Bell, he helped organize Potelco United Federal Credit Union. For a while, Potelco was run from his bedroom. Jay was a telephone pioneer and predicted the day when you could use a phone with no wires and be able to see the person you were calling. After retirement, he and Merle cared for his brother, Fay, and his sister, Edna, in their home, who each in their turn suffered strokes. Two days after his 91 st . birthday, and after a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with his son, Chris and family, Jay too, suffered a stroke. He was blessed to only live a few hours longer. He is survived by 5 children, 33grandchildren, 49 great grandchildren, & his brother, LaMoine Eggleston (Janice). He was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Merle, a daughter-in-law, 1 grandchild, and 6 great grandchildren. He was also preceded by his parents and 10 brothers and sisters. Services will be held in his honor on Thursday, December 2, 2010, at 11 A. M. at the Indian Hills LDS Ward, 5425 Bannock Highway, Pocatello, Idaho. Family will meet with friends and family from 6:30 to 8:30 P. M. Wednesday, December 1, at the Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. 4 th . St. There will also be a viewing at the church on Thursday, at 10:00 A. M., prior to the services. Jay will be interred in the Cornish Utah Cemetery next to his beloved wife, Merle. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.Colonial-FuneralHome.com.