Jay Furnish

Jay Duaine Furnish, 69, of Pampa, passed away peacefully with his wife and daughter by his side on Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Amarillo.

Graveside services will be 10:00 AM, Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Memory Gardens Cemetery Rev. Norman Rushing officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

Jay was born on September 18, 1955, in Pampa to Jack and Clara Mae (Cook) Furnish. As a child, Jay’s parents moved him and his sister to Arizona where he spent most of his school career. Jay participated in several sports such as football and wrestling and graduated high school in 1973 in Navajo, AZ. Jay also attended college in Phoenix where he discovered his passion for scuba diving and obtaining certification.

Jay moved back to Pampa in early 1976 and in May of that year, he met his wife Karen (Moore) and they were wed on December 4, 1976. Jay and Karen celebrated 48 wonderful years of marriage. When Jay and Karen married, they settled in Pampa and Jay worked for Cabot Oil and Gas for 18 years and then completed his degree in Computer Drafting and Design at Amarillo College in 1996. He then was employed in the engineering department for Ingersoll Rand, later known as National Oilwell Varco, until his retirement in 2016.

Jay knew his own mind and as the patriarch of his family, he took his responsibilities in that role seriously. If there was someone in his family in need, he made sure they were cared for and had what they needed.

Jay was a big movie fan of many genres and westerns were a favorite, especially if they featured John Wayne. Sci Fi movies and TV shows were often playing on a tv in his home as well. Through the years, Jay enjoyed many types of hobbies and activities with his wife and daughter. They would go camping, fishing, and skiing and he very much enjoyed playing golf.

The creative nature of his work would also come into play in his home life. He was a big advocate of creating and completing home repairs, renovations, and building new home projects. One such way this would be apparent was when his grandsons wanted something, such as T-Ball stands, Jay refused to just go out and buy one, he was going to build it, and he did. There were simply too many projects to list, but he made sure they were completed to perfection. His three grandsons, Tate, Logan and Ethan Bailey were his light. If they were involved, he was there and was not going to miss any part of it. Every sports event, school concert or awards assembly, he made special effort just to be part of it. He always was a constant presence for them.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Jackie Lynn (Furnish) Sublett, nephew, Kip Sublett, his wife’s father Alton Moore, his mother-in-law Delois Moore Cook and her husband Guy Cook, brother-in-law, Joseph Moore and lifelong childhood best friend, Bobby Roberts.

Those who remain to cherish the memories of Jay are his loving wife, Karen, of the home; his daughter, Alisha Bailey and her husband Matt of Pampa; three grandsons, Tate, Logan and Ethan; sister, Deana (Furnish) Hartshorn and husband Clendon of Flagler Beach, FL; sister-in-law, Rhonda Patterson of Stonewall, OK; and brother-in-law, Benton Moore of Houston; nieces, Chelsea Malone of Pampa and Brandi Elmore and her husband Scott of Stonewall, OK; nephew, Tanner Malone of Pampa; great nieces, Savannah Armstong and Waylin Boaz; great nephews, Olin and Baxter Elmore and many extended family members.