Joneth Ray Wyatt

"Jay" was born to the late Jessie Bell Gill and the late Ed Wyatt on December 21, 1952, in Harris County, Texas. Sometime after his birth, the family moved to the homestead in Jasper, Texas. He left Jasper when he was 14 and, in his early teenage years, enrolled in Gary Job Corps in San Marcos, Texas, where he earned his high school diploma and a trade. He then joined the Army National Guard in 1972 with an honorable discharge completion in 1982.

During this time, he made Austin, Texas, his home. His first jobs after returning to Austin were as a plumber, an electrician, and a garbage man. He later began driving the city buses for Capital Metro for many years before becoming vice president of the Austin Transit Union. He later served as president until his retirement in 2018. He gained a family at Capital Metro, and he worked there for over 40 years.

He loved to read newspapers, watch the news, and travel for both work and pleasure. He enjoyed watching and listening to news about politics and participated as well. He loved to vote at every election. He enjoyed debates with anybody on any subject. Uncle Jay was an intelligent, smart, self-educated man. He went to church every Sunday until his health started to fail.

He loved a glass of wine, a can of beer (Schlitz Blue Bull, 16 oz.), and Merit cigarettes. He loved to get his trucks and cars detailed, and he enjoyed getting his suits and clothes washed, starched, and pressed at the cleaners. Jay loved to help people who were trying to help themselves. Most of all, he loved his family, and if you ever met him, you would know he definitely loved the ladies!!!

He was preceded in death by his mom, Jessie Bell Gill; dad, Ed Wyatt; older sister, Mae Jessie Gill Latson; and younger brother, Eddie Lee Wyatt.

He leaves to cherish his memories: his daughter, Tasha Bell; grandson, Jaylen Allen of Lake Way, Texas (Austin); nephew, Paul Gill of Jasper, Texas; niece/daughter, Patrina (Jarl) Wade of Newton, Texas; niece, Latresha Byerly of Houston, Texas; great-nieces, Jasmyne, Tabraja, and Amaya, all of Jasper, Texas; great-nephews, Jayden, Trey, Jatavien, Taye, Jaybrien, and Kalab; great-great-nieces, MaKahlyn and J'Leigh; great-great-nephews, Nylan and Noah; and a host of cousins, friends, and his Capital Metro family.