JAY G. CASEY, 80, of Henlawson, husband of Loretta Kennedy Casey, died Saturday, June 21, 2003, in the V.A. Medical Center in Huntington, WV. Jay was the devoted husband of Loretta Kennedy Casey and left her to anticipate their reunion in Heaven. He was the former owner and proprietor of West Virginia Stainless Steel Corporation. Jay was a former coal miner and saleman. For many years, he specialized in selling West Bend stainless steel cookware. He had also worked in the cemetery sales business and for many years he also sold Electrolux appliances. But Jay's real first love in sales was always West Bend which he sold under his corporate name, West Virginia Stainless Steel Corporation. Jay sold a wide territory in Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky and developed lifelong friends where ever he sold. Jay loved his church, his family, and the sales business in that order. He loved to travel the back roads in the mountains meeting and talking with friends both old and new. Jay loved to tell stories and had an occasion for every story and a story for every occasion. He also had a trick which he often used when closing a sale. He learned how to write upside down and when he was closing a sale he would turn a sheet of paper to face his customer on the other side of the table and begin to write his sales presentation closure upside down so the customer could read it right side up. He would write the whole thing upside down and most customers would be astounded. He loved to do group cookware presentations in the homes of previous buyers who would invite their friends for dinner which Jay would cook while doing a sales presentation. Jay also loved to help those less fortunate than himself and often helped younger, more inexperienced salesmen to learn the business. Jay will be missed by all who knew him.
Those left to cherish his memory include one daughter, Diana Parsons of Henlawson; three sons, Jay (Jackie) Casey Jr. of Toledo, Ohio, Billie Joe Casey of Henlawson, and Jack (Vanessa) Casey of Henlawson; nine grandchildren, Joetta Thompson, Sherry Sullivan, Michelle Reenders, Joe Casey, Richard Parsons, Josie Vance, Tony Casey, Aaron Casey and Megan Adkins; 15 great-grandchildren, Chelsea, Brianna, Victoria, Andrew, Logan, Richelle, Skylar, Will, Greenlea, Chloe, Sebastian, McKenzie, Drew, Aubrey, and Ben; and one great-great-grandchild, Jazzlyn. Funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, 2003, at Evans Funeral Home, Chapmanville, W.Va.; burial took place in Highland Memory Gardens Mausoleum, Godby, W.Va. Visitation from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.