John “Jay” Jenkins

Jay may have been stubborn, but he just liked things his way. You could appreciate his sense of humor, provided you weren’t easily offended. He loved his yard which was cared for by his “private gardener”, though he didn’t trust anyone but himself to keep his pool water crystal clear. In his eyes his cars were always the best, though most considered his ’65 Impala the coolest. You’d be lucky to be parked next to it in the lot at a concert; his speakers would blare Back in Black to get the party going.
Jay could have wallpapered his house with losing lottery tickets, but you can’t win if you don’t play. For a guy who historically loved slots, it was his little way of getting the gamble out of his system. Fitting that his final trip was to Las Vegas, his first time on an airplane. Jay kept the winning going in local radio station contests.
Some said he talked like a truck driver, but maybe that’s because he was. He thought nothing of missing birthdays or holidays to finish his routes and he won numerous safety awards. Everything he did was for his family.
Jay had known Donna Jester since he was eight, though he probably couldn’t have predicted that he’d marry her since she beat him up all the time. When they wed in 1991, Jay didn’t feel he was marrying just her, he married her whole family. They were blessed with two children, John and Kristina (John).
He is survived his brother, Steven (Debbie) Yodzis; sister, Cyndi (Nancy) Yodzis and their son, Austin; sister-in-law, Priscilla (Joe) Cormney; brother-in-law, Don Jester; his adopted mother, Elizabeth Lucas; mother and father-in-law, Donald Sr. and Priscilla Jester; special niece and nephew, Amanda Lynn and D.J. Jester; his best friend, Brian (Linda) Mancini and their son, Tommy; and friends, Tammy and Thomas Hudson and their children, Joey, Anthony, David and Megan. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Jenkins and Bertha Mae Yodzis; and his sister, Robin.
Come celebrate 47 great years,from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday at Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside, where you’ll share your stories of Jay starting at 6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the family will be appreciated.