Jay Charles Dauro

Jay Charles Dauro passed unexpectedly on August 22, 2023. Jay was born October 27, 1953, in Pensacola, FL, to Vincent A. and Genevieve Dauro. Jay is survived by his wife, Sarah Dauro; his daughter, Moriah Powers (Christie Smith); and grandson, Devin Wilson.

Thanks to Vince’s naval career, Jay had a lot of homes, including Florida, California, and Arkansas, before settling down in Huntsville, AL “at the ripe old age of ten.”

Jay earned his Bachelor’s in Math/Computer Science from The University of Alabama in Huntsville. He interned doing programming at the local utility company while in college.

 Jay also worked a lot in amateur theater while in college. He gained many lifelong friends from theater. He became a union stagehand and a lighting tech. This experience opened an amazing door that led to Jay working for Johnny Cash and The Highwaymen for twenty years. Jay traveled all over the world in his production manager role for John and the Boys.

 After John retired from the road in 1997, Jay had a friend from college reach out to him about an opportunity in Programming at Intergraph. This is where he spent the last twenty years of his career.

Jay’s grandfather had put aside a raisin scuppernong wine when he learned Vince & Jenny were expecting. It was served at Jay’s christening and the leftovers were set aside for Jay’s wedding. When Jay bought his house in the 90s, Mom and Dad opened a bottle with him, assuming a wedding was not to be. At 57, Jay married Sarah Gaddy and instantly became a dad and a grandpa, and the remaining raisin scuppernong was served at the reception.

Jay and Sarah moved to Texas in 2017 to be closer to their daughter and grandson. Jay officially retired after moving to Texas and became an ‘Unpaid Intern’ (a self-appointed title) at his wife’s Saori weaving studio.

Jay had recently moved with his family to Colorado in May 2023. There he continued to fulfill his obligations as the family’s all-around handyman and was completing projects right up until his final days.

 Jay’s hobbies included attending JordanCon (Wheel of Time) conventions, baking cookies (earning him the nickname “Cookie Man”), and being of service to loved ones.

Jay will not be present at his memorial service. Several years ago, he donated his body to the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University to contribute to scientific research in forensic sciences. He will have already taken his last flight to the “body farm” as we gather to celebrate his life.

If Jay could be there with us, he would show up in shorts and a T-shirt. He’d expect no more from anyone else, so please honor him by coming as you prefer to dress.

“May you shelter in the palm of the Creator's hand and may the last embrace of the mother welcome you home.”

*Please tune in to Jay's live streamed funeral service. A link will be made available an hour before service time on Saturday 8/26/2023 for out of chapel viewership*

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