W. Wooten

Dr. W. J. (Jay) Wooten, Jr., DDS, 79, of Canyon, died Thursday,January 23, 2003 in Amarillo, Texas. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, January 27 at First Baptist Church, Canyon, with Dr. Strauss Atkinson, Pastor Emeritus, and Rev. David Lowrie, Pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery of Canyon by Brooks Funeral Home. Dr. Wooten was born October 19, 1923 in Canyon to W. J. & Maude Wooten, the fourth of five boys. He spent all his school years in Canyon, graduating in 1940. He did his undergraduate work at West Texas State College and graduated from Northwestern University Dental School in 1945. While in dental school, he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve Dental Corps. Upon completion of his dental degree, he was stationed at San Diego, California, at Tientsen, China with the 1st Marine Division, at Camp Hood on a lend-lease assignment with the Army, and finally on a lease to the Air Force in New Orleans until his discharge in September, 1947. He married Joyce Hunt on September 28, 1946 in Rule, Texas. They moved to Canyon where he began his dental practice on September 9, 1947, in the new Medical and Dental Clinic with Robert P. Jarrett, M.D. Jay practiced in the Canyon Clinic until his retirement in November, 1996. Jay practiced dentistry for 51 years and sincerely loved his patients and his work. He was a member of the Panhandle District Dental Society and was a Life Member of both the Texas and American Dental Associations. Dr. Wooten was a member of the First Baptist Church in Canyon where he attended a men's Sunday School Class and served as a deacon. Jay was a board member of the Llano Estacado Council of the Boy Scouts of America and served as an assistant Scout Master. He taught Canyon's first God and Country classes for the Boy Scouts. He was a past president of the Lions Club; past director of the Chamber of Commerce and served on the City Board of Adjustment. Jay was an avid fisherman and enjoyed frequent fishing trips with his friends to Canada or Old Mexico. He also enjoyed playing tennis, dominoes and bridge. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Elmer, Clarence, and Chris. Survivors include his wife, Joyce, of the home; son, Ronald Jay and wife, Karyn, and grandson, Jay Garrett, of Amarillo; granddaughter, Valerie, of Euless, Texas; and one brother, Leroy, of Amarillo. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Canyon Building Fund, 1717 4th Ave., Canyon, TX 79015; Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson, Amarillo, TX 79101; or Alzheimers Association, 2200 W. 7th, Amarillo, TX 79106. The family wishes to extend grateful appreciation to the caring staff of The Cottages of Quail Creek and The Crown of Texas Hospice.