Julian (Jay) Alan Jean passed away peacefully at home in Cypress, Texas, under hospice care on July 26, 2025, at the age of 76. He had bravely endured the challenges of a rare neurological disorder, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), for several years.

Jay was born on January 7, 1949, in Anna, Illinois, the second of two sons to Robert and Anne (Grammar) Jean. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Stephen Lance Jean. He is survived by his devoted wife, Loretta Jean (Jones) of Cypress; his daughter, Lindsay Mae Cutbirth, her husband Daniel, and granddaughters Madison and Ella of Cypress, Texas; his stepson, NC1 Joseph Longoria, USN, and his wife Andrea, along with granddaughters Halle and Jessa of Kansas City, Kansas. He is also fondly remembered by Loretta's extended family, who embraced Jay as one of their own.

Jay's childhood was shaped by frequent family relocations due to his father's work. From Illinois to Texas, Louisiana, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Kansas, and Colorado, he attended six different schools in six different states during his first six years of education. In 1961, the family settled in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where Jay entered seventh grade and later graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1967. There, he thrived as a student-athlete and leader captaining the basketball team, earning two varsity basketball letters. He also earned three baseball letters where he was as an all-star shortstop. In addition, he served as Student Body President and was also elected Idaho's Youth Governor. That honor led him to attend the Youth Governors' Conference in Washington, D.C., the summer before he entered Harvard College. He graduated from Harvard in 1971 with a degree in economics.

Jay's personal life included meaningful relationships across the years. He married Kris Wackerli, his high school sweetheart, in 1970, and they remained friends following their divorce. In 1980, Jay married Marilyn Wheeless, and they welcomed daughter Lindsay Mae in 1982. Jay and Marilyn also remained friends after their 29-year marriage ended. In 2012, Jay married the love of his life and soulmate, Loretta Jones. He often described their bond with a favorite poem by E. Dillard:

"There we sat on the edge of the earth with our feet dangling over the side, and marveled that we had found each other…"

Professionally, Jay built a distinguished forty-year career in engineering, construction, and project management. He began with Stearns-Roger in Denver, then worked for Raytheon and Jacobs Engineering in Houston, and ultimately ConocoPhillips in Houston and Brisbane, Australia. His career took him across six continents and placed him at the helm of major capital projects worldwide. His final role was on the management team of a $15 billion project in Australia. Following his retirement in 2014, he and Loretta settled in Simpsonville, South Carolina, before moving back to Houston in 2021 to be closer to family during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jay cherished time spent with Loretta at their beloved mountain cabin in western Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, which he inherited from his brother, Lance. There, along the Appalachian Trail, they found peace and tranquility.

Jay lived a life rich in experiences. He traveled the globe-from tea gardens in Taipei to beer gardens in Munich, from alleyways in ancient Damascus to snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. He attended Masters Tournaments and Super Bowls, danced the Ori in Tahiti, visited coffee shops in Amsterdam, and admired the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. A passionate sports fan, he once stood in Boston Garden during Game 6 of the 1968–69 NBA Championship, when Bill Russell's Celtics defeated the Lakers. He was at Yankee Stadium in 1958 to see Don Larsen pitch against the Red Sox, watching legends like Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams share the field.

Jay's lifelong love of baseball began in Wichita, Kansas, where he joined Little League at age nine. Remarkably, during his first three seasons-two in Wichita and one in Denver-his teams never lost a game. He didn't experience a loss until age twelve.

Jay was a man of intelligence, adventure, humor, and quiet strength. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who were fortunate to share in his remarkable journey. Indeed, he had a life well lived and was admired and loved by all that had the privilege of knowing him.

Click here for a recording of the celebration of the life of Julian Jean.