Juli'sgardenthyme
Tribute to a Great Father and Husband- Jay Martin Russell
By Carolyn Russell
Born in Chicago in the year 1936, he toughed it out for seven years on Nelson Street, learning how to survive when the bullies ganged up on him. He moved to Salt Lake with most of his family just in time to be baptized. Jay attended Uintah Elementary School for about a year and a half. Jay’s father stayed in Chicago to work at his manufacturing company.
Jay’s dad, Valoran, found a beautiful home on New England Avenue in Morton Grove, Chicago and was excited to tell his wife, Irma. He bought them this new lovely home so they could all come back together and enjoy it. So the family moved back to Chicago where Jay and his family spent six years, not far from the city. They also lived near Golf, Illinois where the famous celebrity golfers hung out. He did see Bing Crosby there, and he earned some money caddying for a while.
A neighborhood horse stable was one interesting way to learn the pleasures of riding horses. Jay liked having dogs for pets, and one of his favorites was a black Labrador named Spud, who was his good friend when the family moved back to Salt Lake again in 1950, just in time for Jay to attend Granite High School. He walked home after basketball practice to 3626 Millcreek Road where we live now. Jay attended Granite High School for two years. And then moved to brand spanking new Olympus High School as a very popular senior.
He was president of the Men’s Association and starred as the Gypsy Jan in the opera Desert Song. By this time his talents were many. Music was of utmost importance as he sang in a quartet, assemblies, and sang in the Tabernacle Choir for six years.
Jay is an artist, a journalist, and is really good at building homes and remodelling.
The Netherlands became a pinnacle point in Jay’s life when he sailed on the Ryndam of the Holland America Line to Europe and started his mission in The Hague, Holland. Almost three years later he sailed home from the United States and arrived in the New York harbor just in time to take a long stroll along the Jersey shore to pick up a Volkswagen he bought in Germany. Jay was Counselor to President Sperry during his mission, and discovered that President Sperry was his Bishop at the time he lived in Salt Lake and was baptized!
Life became a dream come true when Jay married Carolyn Ferguson only nine months after returning home from his mission. They went to Sun Valley on their honeymoon and returned to their apartment on Ashton Circle off of 21st East.
He went to the University of Utah and Carolyn taught second grade at East Millcreek School. Right away they started their family with Juli, being the first and only beautiful girl with five brothers who she watched over and loved: Michael Joseph, Philip Jay, John Ferguson, Matthew Ferguson, and Joseph Peter — all handsome and outstanding — and their amazing wives: Julie, Mollie, Jodi, and Ashley.
Jay is a wonderful, exceptional partner who has made my life an exciting, fabulous journey as we look forward to being with our family for eternity.
Carolyn F Russell