Obituary of Jay Thomas Gordon

Jay Thomas Gordon, 50, of Joshua, Texas, passed away peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 27, 2023.

Jay was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to John Thomas Gordon, Jr. and Sharon Merry on March 2, 1973.

Jay attended Howard Payne University where he studied youth ministry. He was a member of the Delta Pi Service Fraternity at Howard Payne and met his wife Ambi while attending HPU.

Jay and Ambi were married in 1995 and shared a wonderful 28 years together.

Jay served as a youth minister in multiple churches through the years in both Texas and North Carolina.

Jay decided to pursue a career as a teacher where he seemed to have found his true calling and he could continue a ministry to students in a different way. He was a teacher in Crowley ISD for 18 years, where he touched the lives of numerous students. He taught students at Poynter Elementary, David Walker Intermediate, Summer Creek Middle, and Richard Allie Middle.

In December 2020, he began a journey through End Stage Renal Disease. Choosing to live life to the fullest, he continued riding motorcycles with friends, cooking on his multiple smokers and grills, and mastering a variety of handyman skills.

Jay is survived by his wife Ambi and their children Jeremiah (Bailey Taylor) and Alyssa; his sweet granddaughter Chloe; brother Jason (Lisa) Gordon of Rockport, Texas; their children Kerstin, Madison, Marley, and Tanner; his “brother from another mother” Todd Fry (Jeri) of Midlothian; and many friends and family members from near and far.

Jay is preceded in death by parents Sharon Merry and Tom Gordon, infant sister Missy, and grandparents John and Mary Gordon and Norma and Jess Merry.

A celebration of Jay’s life and legacy will be held on Friday, July 7th at 2 PM with a visitation prior at 1 PM at Hallmark Church - 4201 W Risinger Rd in Fort Worth, TX. No formal attire is necessary, but the color purple to honor Jay’s membership in Delta Pi is encouraged.

In lieu of flower arrangements, the family requests that donations be made in Jay’s honor to the American Kidney Fund or the National Kidney Foundation.

The family would also like to thank the Rathgeber Hospitality House, United Regional Hospital staff in Wichita Falls for their excellent care and support through a difficult time as well as the staff of Davita Central Fort Worth for walking with us through Jay’s dialysis journey.