Jay Dee Tomlinson of Hermiston passed away in Seattle, Wash. on April 18, 2025 at the age of 78.
He was born on Aug. 30, 1946 in Colville, Wash. to Julian and Alice Wright Tomlinson.
Jay lived in many places throughout his childhood such as Azalea, Yucaipa, Calif., Florence, Scio, and Crescent Lake. After his graduation from high school, he joined the Air Force. While in the Air Force he was stationed in Great Falls, Mont., where he worked as a Minuteman missile tech.
Jay moved to Roseburg after his discharge from the Air Force. He and his brother Thomas started Tomlinson Construction, where he worked for the next five years. In 1974 he moved to Hermiston, where he owned and operated J.D. Tomlinson Construction for the remainder of his career. He is known for many construction projects throughout Hermiston and the surrounding areas. Jay was also one of the founding members of the Irrigon Seventh Day Adventist Church, where he made many lifelong friends.
Jay found the love of his life in 2001 when he met JoAn Galinato. He and JoAn were married on March 8, 2001 in a beautiful ceremony in The Philippines surrounded by loved ones.
Jay collected classic cars and was especially proud of his Studebaker Avanti cars. He was a talented fabricator and carpenter and he enjoyed giving people a hand when they were in need. He was proud of the dairy he owned in The Philippines with his wife.
He is survived by his loving wife, JoAn; two daughters, Marcy Russell and her husband Cory and Melissa Haley and her husband Brandon; four grandchildren, Alexander, Brittany, Kristin and Sarah; great-grandchildren, Alexander Jay,
Adalynn, Amelia, Audrey, Kinley, Clarke and Aaron; sister, Julie Penrod and her husband Robert; many nieces and nephews whom he loved like his own; and several extended family members.
He was preceded in death by a son, Doug; a sister, Irene; and his brother, Thomas.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at the Burns Mortuary Chapel, 685 W. Hermiston Ave.
A private family interment will be in the Roseburg Veterans Cemetery at a later date.
