Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Jay Jasperson passed away March 1, 2024, at Providence Medical Center in Portland, Ore., after suffering a heart attack following surgery, one day short of his and Karon’s 60th wedding anniversary. Born Aug. 23, 1944, in Bremerton, Wash., to Carl and Shirley Jasperson, the family was complete with younger sisters, Jacquelyn and Jeanne.
The family settled in the Murdock / Lyle, Wash., area where Carl moved them for work constructing The Dalles Dam and many other large-scale projects. Jay graduated from Lyle High School in 1962 and soon launched a maritime career working on tugboats hauling freight on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. In 1964, Jay married the love of his life, Karon Krall. Their son and daughter, Kevin and Michele (Missy) were born in The Dalles and raised in Lyle as well. Jay and Karon designed and built a custom home together near his family home in Lyle, where they have lived for 52 years.
Jay’s work on tugboats, mainly The TYEE / The Challenger, became a second home and family as he lived two weeks of every month on the rivers for 45 years. Even more important to him was the close, loving family and friends who filled the two weeks at home with games, barbeques, camping and fishing. He was a voracious reader with a book collection that could supply a small-town library. He loved playing and singing Johnny Cash songs on his guitar, fly-fishing, and hunting.
When Jay retired, he turned his creative energy towards blacksmithing tools and silversmithing jewelry. He loved to gift his blacksmith art and silver rings to friends and family. He crafted many items from stemmed roses and silver rings to artistic bottle openers and pizza cutters. Jay’s crafts can be found on many kitchen counters and silver rings on the hands of his loved ones.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife Karon; his son Kevin Jasperson and partner Sheri Krane; daughter Michele Jasperson and husband Bryan Trullinger; grandchildren Brady and Carlee Trullinger, and Kristine Jasperson and partner Jordan Barnedt; great-granddaughter Everly Barnedt; and sisters Jacquelyn Johnson and husband Keith, and Jeanne Agostinelli and husband Mike.
Jay’s family and friends greatly miss his infectious smile, quick wit and love of telling jokes. All are invited to a celebration of life at the White Salmon Elks Club, where Jay was a lifetime member, to be held on Saturday, May 18 at 2 p.m.
To plant a tree in memory of Jay Jasperson as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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