JAMES WARREN LEA JR.

Jay (James) Warren Lea Jr., a resident of Nevada City, passed away June 4, 2014, after a short battle with colon cancer. He was 35. The family welcomes all those that knew Jay to join in a celebration of life at 2 p.m. Aug. 2 at Pioneer Park at Creek Side Left in Nevada City (please note time changes from previous announcement). The family will be providing beef hotdogs, chips and ice cold bottled water. If you would like to bring a dish to share, it would be appreciated. Picnic attire is appropriate; there will be a creek for the children to play in. Directions to the celebration are: from Grass Valley, exit Highway 49 at Broad Street, turn right off exit, at first stop sign go straight up the hill (Boulder Street), turn right at next stop sign on Park Avenue. At next stop sign, go straight (do not turn on Nimrod Street). Parking will be on the right side at Max Solaro. Creek Side Left is located at the far end of parking lot. Jay was born and raised in Grass Valley, Calif. He took an active role in the community, from being the president of the Leo’s Club at Nevada Union High School to working for years as a precinct inspector for state and local elections. Not only did Jay work as an IT professional for Nevada County, but was always willing to help his family and friends with their computer needs. He enjoyed wine tasting with friends at local wineries, mixing drinks behind the bar at McGee’s, grabbing a microphone for some karaoke, snowboarding, waterskiing, biking, target shooting and spending time with family and friends. Jay is remembered as having an infectious smile, sense of humor and a kind and caring spirit. As in life, at Jay’s passing he wanted to continue to help others and did so by donating his body to medical research in hopes of making medical advancements for others in the future. The family would like to take this opportunity to express a special thanks to Deborah Curtis and all the County of Nevada employees who contributed to making Jay’s wish of having raised garden beds come true before his passing. Jay will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. He was the kind of young man that anyone would be proud to call son, brother, grandson, nephew, uncle, godfather and friend.

JAMES WARREN LEA JR.

May 20, 1979 - June 4, 2014