Jay Lee Wilkinson

Dec. 27, 1941 – Dec. 4, 2022

Jay Lee Wilkinson, 80, was born to Guy (Boney) and Gladys (Hap) Wilson Wilkinson on Dec. 27, 1941, in the Greybull Hospital. Jay passed away on Dec. 4, 2022, after a long battle with COPD. 

Jay married Marilyn Joyce Aagard on Oct. 20, 1960. Jay worked his way up to manager at the Safeway grocery store in Greybull. To stay in Greybull, Jay and Marilyn purchased a small grocery store, J & H Grocery. Jay then moved on to various other jobs in propane, the sales barn and bentonite. Jay retired as a heavy equipment operator from MI on Aug. 30, 2009.

Jay loved the outdoors; hunting, fly fishing, horses, rodeo and woodworking. However, the greatest joy was being the “dirty old man”with a dirty joke or a funny story to share. A few of Jay's family's favorite stories are: While a manager at Safeway, Jay had a walkie-talkie in the cereal section. When Preacher Rodman came to the area, Jay was in the crow's nest office with another walkie-talkie. Jay called out to Preacher Rodman over the walkie-talkie, and he looked around and although no one was there, the Preacher asked who it is. Jay responded, “God.”

Jay had a buddy call his mom and pretend to be an employee of Ma Bell telephone company. The buddy informed Hap that the company was blowing out the phone lines and she might want to cover the phone so her home would not get all dusty. After the call was finished, Jay sped out to his parent's home. When he entered the home, Hap was furiously trying to cover the phone! Guy was trying to convince her that somebody was pulling her leg, but “Jay the professional jokester” was enjoying the fruits of his labor. 

Jay is preceded in death by his parents Guy and Hap, and sister, Shirley Dillon formerly of Powell. Those left behind and cherishing his memory include his wife Marilyn and his three children, Troy (Sherri) Wilkinson of Greybull, Wendi (Ardyce Minch) Wilkinson of Cody and Fonda (Jerry) Williams of Burlington. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Craig Wilkinson (Greybull), Brandy (Jeremy) Kottman (Greybull), Amanda (Mike) Bruton (Montana), Trey (Melissa) Wilkinson (Greybull), Angie (Marcus) Kunda (Nevada), Kate (Nathan) Hetzel (Greybull), Colter Davis (Powell) and 14 great grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, at the Atwood Family Chapel in Greybull, with the reception to follow at Greybull Elks Lodge #1431. Memorial contributions may be made in Jay's name to Big Horn Federal Savings Bank in Greybull with proceeds to go to The Greybull Recreation Center or St. Jude Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements have been entrusted to Atwood Family Funeral Directors.