Jay Arthur Lively passed away Nov. 3, 2015, in Traverse City. He was 85 years old.

Jay, by his own account, had a good life. He was born July 26, 1930, in St. Clair, Michigan, the only child of William Arthur and Edna Pearl (Atkinson) Lively. He graduated from St. Clair High School where he excelled at sports, played in the band, and learned to love Greek mythology. He attended Graceland University and graduated from Michigan State. After college, Jay served in the Army and worked briefly for Mobil Oil.

Jay married Mary Lou Richards on Aug. 17, 1957, in Harbor Beach, Michigan, a love story for the ages. At Mary Lou's encouragement, Jay became a teacher, and taught fifth grade for more than 30 years at Jefferson and McKinley elementary schools in Livonia, Michigan. They resettled in Traverse City after Jay retired, and enjoyed their new life Up North for just a few years before Mary Lou died in 1997. Jay nursed his broken heart by devoting himself to his grandchildren, building a cabin on Lake Superior, traveling, golfing, reading, walking, shoveling snow, and following the Spartans and the Detroit Tigers.

Jay will be lovingly remembered by his children, Janet (Kevin Lynch) Lively and Jim (Kelly) Lively; his grandchildren, Emily, Marley, Jane and Annie Lively, and Conor and Ruth Lynch; brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, many good friends and treasured neighbors.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be directed to American Legion Junior Baseball and Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities.