Jay Stanard, life long Colfax area carpenter, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday morning, September 8, 2015 at his home in Steptoe. He was 52. A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held Tuesday, September 15th, at the Catalyst Church, Fairview Campus, at 10:00 AM. Pastor Bill Reynolds will officiate. A potluck reception will follow the service down at the Colfax Eagle's Lodge. Jay was born November 13, 1962 in Colfax to Glen and Linda (Moffitt) Stanard. He grew up in Colfax along with his older brother Robin and graduated from Colfax High School in 1981. Jay was an avid swimmer and had participated on the Colfax Swim Team during some of those years. He worked at the local Exxon gas station along Main Street and it was during one of his shifts there that he met Arla Kaye Fox. It wasn't long before the pair became inseparable and on November 26, 1982 Jay and Arla married in Palouse. They made their home in Colfax and in Steptoe for many years. Jay worked for Damery's Landscaping for a while and later went to work on the Hill-Ray Plaza project as it was nearing completion. Jay's true talent was in his carpentry skill and he became the last man on the job at Hill-Ray as he put all the finishing touches into place. He also worked at Community Action Center as a HUD housing inspector and weatherization expert. When Jim Hedlund called, Jay went to work for him, learning to be an electrician and still getting to do his contracting work at the same time. He worked with his brother Robin at Stanard's Construction and in 2009 he and Arla started their own business of A & J Construction. Jay was passionate about his work, he loved his customers and they loved him in return. Jay had a special way of anticipating others needs and would often show up to help without ever being asked. He liked to be "always doing for others". He made phone calls to his family, kept in touch, helped his in-laws routinely and served his community in many ways without ever wanting recognition. For 23 years Jay and Arla helped with the MS Fundraiser held in our area. Jay loved to fish, could water ski like nobody's business, loved the water and the outdoors, and he liked to hunt; often being very thoughtful and deliberate about his hunting actions. In addition to his talented carpentry skill he was a good mechanic and could fix anything. He was baptized in the Plymouth Congregational Church in Colfax and more recently he and Arla had been attending the Catalyst Church. He felt a special connection to many of the kids at church and several referred to him as "Uncle Jay". Although he and Arla never had any children of their own Jay felt like God blessed them with many children being put into their lives at strategic times and he loved each one as his own. Jay's "other children" were his beloved Pomeranian dogs, Corky and Matilda, they were truly his babies. Jay is survived by his wife, Arla, at their Steptoe home; his father and step-mother, Glen and Nancy Stanard, Colfax, by his mother, Linda Morris, Spokane, his brother, Robin Stanard, Colfax, by his in-laws, Mae Kinsinger, Colfax, and James Fox of Grand Coulee, WA, extended family Tonya & Dean Prewitt of Colfax, Tim Fox of South Carolina, Charles & Becky Hall and Theresa & Travis Bvlosky as well as nieces Ashton Wegeleben, Jordan Stanard, Kayla and Kristen Prewitt and many others too numerous to mention. He was preceded in death by his grandparents and by a special cousin, Ryan Stanard. The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Diabetes Foundation, the American Heart Association or to Catalyst Kids at Colfax. On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com