Jay Wardell

Jay Wardell passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on February 15th, 2023 after a valiant battle with cancer. Jay was born May 4^th, 1938, to Owen Douglas Wardell & Margaret Wiseman Rees in Rock Port, UT. He was the baby of the family. Jay grew up in Rock Port on the family farm until 1952 when the state came in and bought them out so they could build the Rock Port Dam. Jay spent his youth working alongside his siblings and parents milking cows, hauling hay, feeding pigs, horses, mink and sheep and trying to talk his dad into letting him miss school to stay home and work. Jay has very fond memories of his youth. When the state bought the farm, the family moved to Morgan and started a new legacy. He along with his parents and brother continued to raise milk cows, beef cows and mink. The mink ranch is still in operation to this day.

At the age of 19, at a youth dance, he met Lucy Barnes and they were married the following year. They made their home in Morgan at the Wardell family ranch. Together they raised their 5 children on the ranch and instilled in them the value of hard work. Jay and Lucy were later divorced but continued to live next door to each other and remained friends. Jay had a love of racehorses. It was at this time at the track he met Darinda Wallis and they were married in 2002. They were later divorced but remained good friends.

Jay loved to spend time with his family whether it was hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, going to the racetrack or just time at the farm he loved it all. Jay had a great sense of humor and a quick wit and was known for his ability to come up with a witty statement for any occasion.

In 2018 Jay received the Fur breeders Fur Man of the Year.

Up until the cancer wouldn’t allow it, he worked every day on the farm along with his kids and eventually his grandkids. The motto on the farm was “What happens on the Farm stays on the farm”.

Jay was a faithful Christian and had a strong belief in his Heavenly Father.

Jay is survived by his children: Julie (Dave) Messerly, Hunstville, Wess (Mary) Wardell, Todd (Traca) Wardell, Dan (Angie) Wardell and Ted (Debbie) Wardell all of Morgan. His sister JoAnne Holyoak, 11 Grandchildren, 11 Great Grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Jay is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Dorothy Marchant, Colleen Crandall and Romana Atkinson, his brother Gale Wardell and his great grandson Kaleb.

Funeral services will be held February 22, 2023 at 12 noon at the Rock Church 10 W Young Street in Morgan. A viewing will be held at the Walker Mortuary on Tuesday the 21^st from 6:00 until 8:00 and then Wednesday the 22^nd from 10:30 to 11:30 at the Rock Church.

Interment will follow at the South Morgan Cemetery.