J.W. "Jay" Alexander

J.W. “Jay” Alexander, known as “Alex” to members of his Air Force unit, was received into Heaven on Monday, March 10, 2025. Jay was born on Sept. 5, 1939, in Menard, Texas, the ninth child of Ada Mae and Richard Lee Alexander. He was named after his great grandfather, John William Alexander, who had run away at age 15 to join the Union Army and had later become a Texas Ranger. After public school, Jay attended barber school and worked with his brother Ray in Odessa, Texas, until he joined the Air Force in 1962. He was stationed at McCord Air Force Base in Washington and worked as an air traffic controller. He later described the intense experience of performing that job during the Cuban Missile Crisis under President John F. Kennedy. For the rest of Jay’s life, he expressed gratitude for the privilege of having served and was deeply patriotic. After four years in the Air Force, Jay began a career in lending and banking. He was vice president of Security Bank and Trust in Stroudsburg, PA, when he married his wife, Kathy. When his father became ill, Jay made the decision to return to Texas. He served as Vice President and Manager of the Consumer Loan Department of First City Bank, San Angelo, then was hired by Interfirst Bank, Wichita Falls, and was promoted to Senior Vice President. His reputation as a banker grew, and he was hired as president of Haltom City State Bank in Ft Worth, stepping in during difficult times; he worked to position the bank to become part of a larger holding company. When the bank sold, he became president and CEO of Keller State Bank in Keller, TX. In 1987 Jay moved his family, now including two children, to Delaware, to be near his wife’s retired parents, and worked as a consultant and investigator for a major Southwest banking organization and their client, the FDIC. The constant travel led him to leave that work and bring his family back to Texas. He worked to help another banker try to save a struggling Amarillo bank, then worked in commercial real estate with FIMC and pursued personal investments until his retirement. Jay’s education included the University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, WA), the PA School of Banking (Bucknell Univ), ABA National Installment Lending School (Univ of OK), the Graduate School of Banking (Univ of VA), and the National Commercial Lending Graduate School (Univ of OK). Jay was preceded in death by his parents and eight siblings. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Kathy, by daughters Casey Gbadamosi and Megan Alexander, by grandchildren Roger, Damion, Trinity, Sara, Jaylee, Elizabeth, and Harper, and by his cherished nieces and nephews. Jay turned to Christ for salvation as a young boy in Menard, Texas. He made sure over the years that his family was grounded in a Bible-believing church wherever they lived. At the time of his death, he was a member of Hillside Christian Church. Jay was a lifelong fan of the Dallas Cowboys, though at times they stressed him to the point that he’d turn the TV off and walk out of the house during a game without saying a word. He loved old TV shows like “Gunsmoke” and never tired of watching old John Wayne reruns. He was a humble man, never forgot his “salt-of-the-earth” roots, and maintained his barber license even after becoming a bank president. Jay had a huge heart for people. His clients became his lifelong friends. When his wife became involved with a small congregation of Spanish- speaking Christians, he arranged financing to help the congregation purchase a building that exceeded their hopes. He supported organizations such as “Samaritan’s Purse” and “Voice of the Martyrs,” and prayed for the peace of Israel. Jay’s faith in Christ never wavered. His faith was reflected in his favorite hymns, especially “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace.” In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to “Heal the City,” established by his dear family physician, Dr. Alan Keister.

Tributes

J.W. "Jay" Alexander

September 5, 1939 - March 10, 2025