Jay Dee Tomlinson

Jay Dee Tomlinson of Hermiston was born August 30, 1946 in Colville, WA the son of Julian and Alice (Wright) Tomlinson. He passed away in Seattle, WA on April 18, 2025 at the age of 78 years.

Jay lived in many places throughout his childhood such as; Azalea, OR, Yucaipa, CA, Florence, OR, Scio, OR and Crescent Lake, OR. After his graduation from high school he joined the Air Force. While in the Air Force he was stationed in Great Falls, MT where he worked as a Minuteman Missile Tech.

Jay moved to Roseburg, OR 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, Oregon 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 4:00 P.M. on Saturday May 3, 2025 at the Burns Mortuary Chapel (685 W Hermiston Ave Hermiston, OR). A private family interment will be in the Roseburg Veterans Cemetery at a later date. 

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