Jay LeRoy Jennings

Jay LeRoy Jennings

OBITUARY

Jay LeRoy Jennings of Julian, Bonita and La Mesa California passed away peacefully at his home in Julian on November 7. He was born and raised in Ladysmith Wisconsin, the youngest of eight children. He served in the Navy during World War II and attended the University of Wisconsin on the GI Bill. His college roommates, Gene and Hank Reese, introduced him to their little sister, Donna. Jay and Donna married and moved to California in 1951 so Jay could start a new job with Carnation Dairy Co. Jay and several partners later started “Dari Fresh Farms” in Bonita California. Dari Fresh provided milk to the schools in the South Bay and eventually expanded to several drive-thru small milk and gas stores in San Diego county. The Bonita Dairy Store was a well-known landmark, primarily because of “Freshie”, a three legged life size fiberglass cow that was kidnapped and returned on several occasions. Jay and Donna moved to Julian in 1987, where Jay served the community as a heating and air-conditioning specialist, continuing to make house calls until he was well into his 90’s.

Jay is survived by his sons Daniel (Julian), David (currently Podgorica, Monte Negro) Gayle (Chula Vista), Carole (Julian), Amber (Julian), and several grandchildren.

A celebration of Jay’s life will be held from 12:00 to 4:00 on December 15, 2024 at the Ole Firehouse at Lake Cuyamaca, 34560 Engineers Road Julian, CA. If you knew Jay, worked at any of the Dairy stores, played baseball on any of the kids teams he coached, or were on the back of his truck when one of the wheels fell off, please come and reminisce with old friends and family.

Donations: Ha! We should all be so lucky to live as long as he did!