Jay W Efting

Jay passed away on November 1, 2018 with his family at his side. Jay has joined his heavenly family and is now home with the Lord. Jay was born on December 3, 1935 in Chicago, IL to Sonny and Dorothy Efting. He moved to Bangor with his family when he was seven and lived in the VanAuken Lake area most of his life. He was married to Alice (Hills) Efting in 1956, and they have been married for 62 years. Jay was the quintessential cowboy. Rough and sometimes gruff, but always caring passionately about his family, his friends, his animals and especially his horses. It was their mutual love of horses that brought he and Alice together. Their first date was attending a horse auction! It is not surprising that his life and his family’s revolved around his love and passion for his horses. Jay was a farrier (blacksmith) for most of his adult life and well into his 70’s. He loved visiting with horse friends while caring for their horses. He trained and rode racehorses, was a life member of the Van Buren Sherriff’s Posse and later the Osceola Sherriff’s Posse after he and Alice moved to Baldwin. Later in life, Jay learned the joy of driving horses. He and Alice loved to hitch Jara and Sis to their wagonette and drive the backroads in the Baldwin area. They drove several times on Mackinaw Island and even attended a couple of national driving events around the county. He was also a farmer. Jay was raised and lived on a farm all but the first seven years of his life. Together with his dad, his brother Ross and nephews, Steve and Greg, Jay was an owner and operator of Efting’s Eggery from 1972 until he retired in the late 1980’s. In 2005, Jay and Alice moved from their home in Bangor to their beloved Whitetail near Baldwin in Lake County. Jay literally built a little piece of paradise, which Alice named Running Whitetail, mostly with his own hands. Yes, it was set up for horses, and the family will always have Whitetail as a monument to the man, husband, father, uncle, brother and friend to many that was Jay Efting. Jay was preceded in death by his in-law’s, Bert and Ester Hills; his brothers, Todd and Danny Efting; and a special friend, Maryann Smith. Jay leaves behind his wife, Alice; his children, Diane (Terry) Ficorelli, Scott (Judy) Efting, Amy Post and Jay (Beth) Efting; 9 grandchildren, Lori, Ken, Kelly, Kaleb, Paige, Claire, Jayce, Tyler and Travis; great granddaughters, Anabelle, Noelle, Linda Rose and Elenore; bonus kids, Lynn Sawyer and Katy Otton; many nieces and nephews; and his beloved beagle, Spike. A celebration of Jay’s life will be conducted at the First Congregational Church, 125 Charles Street; Bangor, MI on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Caring Circle Hospice (05055 Blue Star Hwy; South Haven, MI 49090) or the First Congregational Church in Bangor. Arrangements entrusted to the Bangor Chapel, D.L. Miller Funeral Home, www.dlmillerfuneralhome.com.

Jay W Efting

December 3, 1935 - November 1, 2018