Jay Bishop was born December 11, 1945 to Jackson “JC” Bishop and Madeline Dietz in Seattle, WA, where JC was stationed in the US Navy. Soon after Jay’s birth the family moved to Imperial County, CA, where Jay’s younger brother John Charles was born. Not long after, they moved to San Diego, CA, where Jay and John grew up. Jay would later reminisce how special it was that he was able to attend kindergarten through high school with the same group of friends.
Jay loved horses and managed a string of horses for two different outdoor camps in the San Diego area – a military morale, welfare, and recreation camp, and Camp Marston, a YMCA Camp in the San Diego mountains near the town of Jullian, CA. Throughout his life Jay did not feel complete without a horse or two in the corral or on the back acreage. He also later enjoyed assisting his children with numerous 4-H and FFA animal projects.
Jay studied social sciences at San Diego State University until he enlisted in the US Navy Reserve in September 1965. He served a year in Vietnam from 1970 to ’71 , and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, Jay resumed his education at San Diego State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in social sciences. He was then employed as a juvenile probation officer for San Diego County for approximately 15 years.
Having a lifelong love of the outdoors, Jay often visited friends in Lassen County, and enjoyed hunting and fishing there. He seized an opportunity to transfer to the probation department in Lassen County and moved there with his family: his then wife Terry, daughter Jessica, and son John. Jay worked for the Lassen County Probation Department from 1984 until 1994. Jay also taught criminal justice classes at Lassen Community College, traveling to outlying areas to extend education throughout the county.
Jay served the youth of Lassen County as a member of numerous boards and committees and as the director of a group home. He later extended his love of working with students and families by becoming a substitute teacher, feeling comfortable with children of all ages, as well as special needs students.
In 1995 Jay met and married his present wife, Nora Bishop, nee Eckman whom he called his “school marm”. They lived in Janesville, until ill health forced Jay to move to Eagle Lake Village earlier this month.
Jay was very proud of being a member of the Lassen County Search and Rescue team, serving for several decades on the horse team as well as searching on foot.
Jay was also immensely proud of his four grandchildren, Analise, Elora, Cameron, and Aaliyah. He loved hearing stories of their world travels and successes in school and life.
Jay is preceded in death by his parents, brother, and son. He is survived by his wife Nora Bishop, daughter Jessica (James) Birchenough, and grandchildren. Jay will be missed by all who knew him and enjoyed his quirky sense of humor.
Viewing will be held February 16th, 2020 at Walton’s Colonial Mortuary from 4:0 – 8:00p.m. Graveside service will be held February 17th, 202 at 10:00a.m., at Janesville cemetery.
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