Jay Vincent Flake

Jay Vincent Flake of Mesa, Arizona passed away on January 23, 2023 in Mesa, Arizona.  He was 81. Jay was born on December 23, 1941 in Olympia, Washington to his parents, Vincent M. and Lenora A. (Ikerd) Flake.

Jay grew up in Snowflake, Arizona and graduated from Snowflake High School in 1960. He had a love of playing and watching sports.  An outstanding athlete, he played on Snowflake High’s, varsity football, basketball and baseball teams.  He was later recruited by Brigham Young University to play baseball.

From 1961-1963 he served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Hawaii Mission.  He had a great love for the Hawaiian people which had a major influence on his life.  Throughout the next 60 years, he frequently traveled to Hawaii, invited Hawaiian friends to visit his home and integrated Hawaiian culture and music into his day-to-day life, as well as the life of his family.

Jay graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in 1966 and graduated with a juris doctor (JD) degree from University of Arizona in 1969.

Being in the Flake family, Jay always had tremendous pride in and endearment for Snowflake and worked to make it a flourishing community as did his ancestors.  With his father and relatives being ranchers, he enjoyed the “cowboy” life with rodeos and trail rides. 

He married Audrey Lynn Wallace in Snowflake, Arizona in 1988.  His first marriage was to Paula Kay Tefteller in 1964 in Mesa, Arizona.  They are the parents of 9 children.  He was a devoted and loving father.  His family was very important to him and he made many sacrifices for them.  Once his children were grown, he stayed in touch by daily calls to each of them.

Jay enjoyed traveling; specifically traveling to different countries learning history and experiencing various cultures.  He looked forward to taking his family to Disneyland, going multiple times each year.  He also loved and frequently spent time at the beach and was an avid scuba diver.

Jay is survived by his wife, Audrey Lynn Flake, and 8 of his 9 children: Shannon J. Flake, Jennifer K. (Flake) Smith, Tara P. (Flake) Oakes, Rachelle L. Flake (deceased 1973), Lyndi A. (Flake) Brinkerhoff, Leslie L. Flake, Rhett J. Flake, Juddson J. Flake, and Colton T. Flake.  He is also survived by his 30 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren as well as his 5 siblings: Gerald Flake, Stanley Flake, Kathryn (Flake) Lee, Mark Flake, Norman Flake.

A viewing will be held from 12:45 P.M. to 1:45 P.M. Saturday, January 28, 2023 at the Main Street Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 48 N. Main Street, Snowflake with the funeral service to begin promptly at 2:00 P.M. Interment will follow in the R.V. “Mike” Ramsay Memorial Cemetery, Snowflake, Arizona.