Jay Collier

J.N. “Jay” Collier III, 88, of Silsbee, TX, passed away on Saturday, November 27, 2021. Jay was born on August 1, 1933, in Silsbee to Jacqueline Blackwell and Richard Warren Collier.

Jay was full-heartedly known as Jaybird to his closest friends, students, and relatives alike. At an early age, Jay had an egregious appreciation for classical music that his mother Jacqueline Collier encouraged Jay to pursue with great intention. After graduating from Silsbee high school, Jay attended Lamar University from 1950-1951 as a music major. He transferred to the University of Houston and graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in piano performance. In 1955, Jay attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas and received his master’s degree in music in piano performance. Jay later retired as a music professor from Lamar University after teaching over forty years of music history and theory during his tenure at Lamar. Jay’s passion and love for teaching piano were never short-lived as he continued to teach private lessons to all of his beloved students during his time at Lamar and well after his retirement.

Jay also played the organ nearly every Sunday for over fifty years at the Silsbee First United Methodist Church, where Jay was always spiritually at home and recently at the Silsbee First Presbyterian Church. Jay’s other hobbies and passions were the meticulous upkeep of his yard, handloading the perfect hunting loads for his family and friends and spending his weekends at the 100- & 1-gun club where he could find time to unwind and relax. Jay was a family-centered man who loved spending time with all his family members whenever possible. Jay and his grandson Wesley experienced many excursions together, from hunting trips to South Texas and visiting his son Perry in Missouri for their yearly hunting adventure.

Jay is survived by his son, Perry Collier and his wife, Jodi, of Birch Tree, Missouri; grandsons, Richard Wesley Collier and his wife, Vanessa; Dustin Price and his wife, Lindsey; granddaughter, LeeAnn Lewis and her husband, Adam; great-granddaughters, Madison Reese Collier and Jordan Lewis; great-grandsons, Jett Price and Duke Price; numerous cousins; and a host of other loving relatives and friends.

Jay is preceded in death by his parents, wife of over sixty-five years, Patsy Perry Collier, grandson Jay Collier, sister, Suzanne Golden; brother, Richard “Dickie” Collier; and son, Jess Collier who recently passed away.

A gathering of Mr. Collier’s family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m., with his memorial service at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Silsbee First United Methodist Church, 670 North 5^th Street, Silsbee, under the direction of Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee. His cremation arrangements were handled through Broussard’s, Crematorium, Beaumont.

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