Jay Dean Wise was born on December 19, 1949, in Wichita, KS.  Jay passed away on March 14, 2024, in Naples, Florida, after a brief illness.

During Jay’s early years in Wichita he landed his first job which was picking up pop bottles and selling them for a penny. He never tired of telling the story of the day he was able to double his sales price to 2 cents per bottle. That day he said he felt like he had won the lottery and that is the day his entrepreneurial spirit took off.

Graduate of Glendale High School in Springfield Missouri and graduated from Southwest Missouri State University with a degree in Business.

Jay was a longtime resident of Springfield, Missouri and followed in his father’s footsteps in the automotive sales industry later becoming part owner of Friendly Ford, in Springfield.  One of Jay’s proudest moments in this role at Friendly Ford was his support of the annual Toys for Tots toy drive. Jay counted among his friends all of those who donated to this cause.  Jay was known as a boundless, giving person, supporting family and friends at every opportunity.

Jay and his family were avid lake-goers spending many weekends at Table Rock Lake – a favorite hangout.  Jay also enjoyed being a private pilot and relished any hours he could carve out to be in the cockpit. Jay was honored to have been able to gift many Angel flights where he piloted several sick children to hospitals to receive treatment.

Among other hobbies, Jay enjoyed wild turkey hunting – in  fact, he enjoyed it so much he would sometimes forget about the timebound turkey hunting season, thus meeting a few Missouri Conservation agents along the way. He was an avid KU basketball fan and loved watching his horses race at Oaklawn and many other race tracks

After retirement in 2013, Jay and his wife Donna moved to Puerto Rico.  In 2020, Jay and Donna moved to Marco Island, Florida, where they enjoyed fabulous weather and friends.  Jay was often seen riding in his red Ferrari golf cart with his puppy, Bella, and the two of them loved iguana hunting.  Jay and Donna enjoyed entertaining friends, cooking in their outdoor kitchen, and the hours of conversation that ensued.  Jay and Donna were comfortable international travelers, visiting many foreign countries, multiple times.  Jay and Donna counted Ireland as one of their favorite international destinations, visiting Ireland on several occasions and thoroughly enjoying each visit.

Jay was predeceased by his parents, Dean and Betty Wise and his nephew Wes Wise.

He is survived by his loving wife, best friend and traveling companion, Donna; daughters Leah Wise, Jill Wise, Emily Wise Evans (Clay), and Megan Wise; grandchildren Hunter Boone, Olivia Wise, Elliot Evans and Cameron Evans, step-son Patrick Mullane, brothers, Bob Wise (Betsy) and Dan Wise (Sally) Jay is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Celebration of life service will be held Saturday, March 30th at 11:00 am at Greenlawn East. A reception will be at The Annex adjacent to Arris Pizza 1332 E. Republic Rd. Springfield, Missouri 65804