Roll Call Tribute

Jay Clark Carnahan, Jr. 

November 9, 1926 - November 29, 2025 

Jay Clark Carnahan, Jr., of Tyler, Texas passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on November 29, 2025 at the age of 99.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 from 6-8pm at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler. A private burial will take place on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at Cathedral In The Pines Cemetery.

Jay was born at home on November 9, 1926 to Jay Clark Carnahan, Sr. and Ruth Florence Elam in Waco, Texas. He was a twin, and he arrived in this world 40 minutes after his sister, Ruth. He grew up in Waco and after high school graduation, he enrolled at his beloved Texas A&M University. After one semester at A&M, Jay joined the Navy. Although the war ended before he was deployed, he enjoyed telling stories about his training at Great Lakes Naval Station, IL and Camp White, OR.

Jay returned to Aggieland to complete his degree in electrical engineering. His first job was with Texas Power & Light in Temple, TX, where he met his wife, Dovie Meadows. They married in 1951. Shortly afterwards, Jay joined Schlumberger Well Services and for the next 30 years, Schlumberger moved Jay and Dovie to Abilene, Graham (where they started their family), Tyler, Corpus Christi, and finally, back to Tyler.

Jay retired in 1982. He enjoyed volunteering with the Pollard UMC Boy Scout Troop, including 4 trips to Philmont. He & Dovie bought an RV and that was the beginning of many memorable adventures throughout the west, especially the Rocky Mountains and Alaska, and enjoyed taking many of these trips with family and friends. They held Aggie football season tickets for many years and always looked forward to tailgating with their Aggie friends. They loved working at their farm clearing trees and brush to create walking trails and gardens. The gardens produced delicious peaches, plums, corn and vegetables which they enjoyed sharing with others.

And then there was golf. For Jay, golf was more than a hobby, it was his passion, and he played every chance he could. He was playing 18 holes per round well into his 90's and in fact, he even played a few holes at age 98.

Jay was preceded in death by his wife Dovie, his parents, brother David Carnahan, and sister Ruth Carnahan. He is survived by his daughter Diane Carnahan (Plano), son Jeff Carnahan (Houston), son John Carnahan (Tyler), niece Deborah Andrle, and nephew Mark Walker.