James ‘Jay’ Alfred Wester, 45, of Huntsville passed away Monday, February 13, 2017. He fought a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer, during which he pushed the boundaries of treatment and recovery. It was only in the last two weeks of his life that he considered himself to be sick. His kind spirit and easy going personality enabled him to view his disease and treatment as “the new norm”. He never blamed anyone or anything for what he was going through. Many times he said that if anyone in his family had to have cancer he was glad it was him, because he was one tough SOB. He approached cancer as he did all things in life, head on with a sound plan and supporting research.
Jay was an Electrical Engineer and proud Alumni of Auburn University, graduating top of his class in 1995. He had a wonderful 20-year career as an engineer with the U. S. Army AMRDEC, receiving numerous service medals. Throughout his career he traveled to many countries including Lithuania, Czech Republic, Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. He also completed three 4-month stints at Camp Arifjan, in Kuwait. His last work trip was to Jordan and the Holy Land. His adventurous spirit led him to travel extensively outside of work. In addition to annual hiking trips to the Appalachian Trail, he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He also toured many different places in Europe and was always planning the next excursion. He was an avid boater and water skier. He also enjoyed snow skiing and many other outdoor activities. He was a passionate supporter of the Auburn Tigers.
Jay took the most enjoyment in spending time with his twins, Luke and Audrey and his wife and best friend, Beth. They made the most of their time together traveling to beaches, Disney World, Universal Studios, and many, many weekends at Guntersville Lake. He doted on his children, they were his “pride and joy” and he felt truly blessed to be a daddy and took great strides to care for them.
He was very social, outgoing and laid-back. He had a large group of friends and never met a stranger. He was a wonderful conversationalist, knowledgeable on a multitude of subjects, enjoyed learning and had more tidbits of information tucked away in his head than most people know in a life time. He was truly a brilliant man, an inspiration, a fighter and just all around good guy. He will be loved always and forever missed.
Jay is survived by his six-year-old children, Lucas James Wester and Audrey Lauren Wester; wife, Beth Stapler Wester; mother, Jo Ann Wester; brothers, Dr. John Wester (Marianna) and David Wester (Cindy); and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Douglas John Wester, Sr.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, February 16 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Coy Hallmark officiating. Mr. Wester will lie in state for two hours prior to the service. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
