Jay Orvel Johnston

Jay Orvel Johnston, 80, dedicated husband, father, and beloved grandfather, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2024. Jay was hard-working and fun-loving, and he blessed his family’s life in many ways.

Born on June 4, 1943, in Phoenix, AZ, he was the oldest child of Orvel McSwain Johnston and Mary Furr. 

Jay participated in Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.   As a high schooler, he developed an interest in airplanes and rockets and was determined to be an engineer. After a year of school at Arizona State University, he decided to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving in the Gulf States Mission. He completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University.  

He moved to California to attend Stanford University where he earned a master’s degree in Applied Mechanical Engineering. While there, he met and fell in love with Careen Simpson.  They married on June 14, 1969, in the Oakland California Temple and lived in Santa Clara, CA, as they expanded their family to include five children. In 1981, Jay and Careen moved to Gilbert, AZ, where they lived for 43 years.

Jay worked at NASA Ames Research Center after graduation as an engineer.    After the family moved to Arizona, he worked writing software for a banking company.   He subsequently worked as an engineer at McDonnell Douglas developing the Apache helicopter.  Eventually, he went to work at the family business at Dial Manufacturing.  He retired in 2015.

A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Jay spent countless hours serving others in his many callings but cared most about being a devoted Ministering Brother. 

Jay worked hard to provide all the necessities for his family and ensure they had everything they needed, but he loved having fun too.  He loved playing golf, “Power Lunches” with his siblings, and taking his children for a chocolate malt at Dairy Queen. Jay was gifted at caring for small children and loved spending time with his grandchildren, enjoying many hours playing all kinds of games with them. He will be greatly missed by those grandchildren who loved him.

He is survived by his 5 children, David (Sherry) Johnston, Steven (Amber) Johnston, Brian (Connie) Johnston, Karen (Karl) Johnson, Lisa (Steven) Nicholes, and 22 grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Duane (Pamela) Johnston, his sister Jana Parker Lee and his brother Reed (Shirley) Johnston.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 10:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 5190 S. Recker Road, Gilbert, AZ, 85298, with a Viewing from 9:00-9:45 am. There will be a Graveside Service at Green Acres Cemetery, 401 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85257 at 12:30 pm following the funeral. Flowers can be sent to Whitney & Murphy Bueler Mortuary, 14 W. Hulet Drive, Chandler, AZ 85225.

Condolences may be expressed at www.buelermortuary.com.