Jay T. Soules

Jay T. Soules

June 10, l939 – August 20, 2026

Jay T. Soules, a longtime resident of Sweetwater, Texas, died on August 20, 2026. He was 87 years of age.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Faith Lutheran Church (1607 Josephine, Sweetwater, Texas), followed by interment of his ashes at Roscoe Cemetery. The family will host a Memory Meal and Visitation following the committal service at the Trinity Baptist Church Family Life Center (1503 Crescent Drive, Sweetwater, Texas). Arrangements are under the direction of Cate-Spencer Trent Funeral Home of Sweetwater.

Jay was born in Dublin, Texas, on June 10, 1939, to E. V. (Pat) and Ruby Soules, the youngest of three children. The family moved to Roscoe, Texas, when he was an infant, and there he spent his youth and made many lasting friendships. He was a proud member of the Roscoe Boys Club and developed an outstanding work ethic while doing family chores for his parents, driving a tractor for his father, and doing odd jobs in town during the summers for extra money. He graduated from Roscoe High School in 1957, and then attended Abilene Christian College. After his freshman year, he worked a short time for the Texas Highway Department before spending his third semester of college at North Texas State University. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army; and he was stationed in Korea during his military service. Following his honorable discharge, he was employed by Sweetwater Cotton Oil Company (now ADM) until 1973.

On June 26, 1966, Jay met his future wife, Glenda Green, and they were married on April 15, 1967. Their marriage was blessed by the births of their son Jason in 1973 and their daughter Amy in l976. Shortly after Jason’s arrival, Jay proudly served as a firefighter with the Sweetwater Fire Department from October 1973 to September 1976 (the most rewarding employment of his career). He then worked for Lone Star Industries (now Buzzi Unicem) for many years, until his retirement. Following retirement Jay was hired by a wind energy company to collect monthly wind data from turbines located on tracts leased from landowners. His sidekick was his beloved father-in-law, and they spent many hours driving across leased lands in Nolan, Fisher and Scurry Counties, calling themselves Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. He was also often joined by his close friend Jim.

Jay was a genealogist of some note, tracing ancestries for both the Soules and Green families—beginning with generations long before the time our country’s founding fathers sailed aboard the Mayflower and landed on our shores – way up to the additions of his grandsons, Carter and Marshall, to the family trees. He was also a cartoonist, as well as a most entertaining writer of poetry and prose. Glenda would readily identify his greatest work as the love letter he wrote to her as his entry in a nationwide contest sponsored by Brighton. The first place prize he won for her was probably one of their most memorable trips. Jay also enjoyed designing and drafting plans for fabulous yachts and dream homes. He was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church where, for many years he served as an elder. He will be fondly remembered for the fun times he enjoyed working with Faith’s youth group and for writing a weekly newsletter to Faith’s membership under the pen name of Hector the Rector (a church mouse).  

Jay Soules will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, and he loved rocking babies. He was known as a hard-working family man with a quick wit and a plethora of trivial knowledge, and was always ready to lend a hand when called upon. If you were lucky enough to know him, you had a friend for life. His deepest passion was his family. Jay’s absence will be felt deeply, but his spirit, the mischievous twinkle in his eyes, and a heart bigger than his smile will always be remembered.

Jay is survived by Glenda Soules, his beloved wife of 59 years, and by their son Jason and wife, Christa, and their grandsons, Carter and Marshall, all of Franklin, Tennessee; his brothers- and sisters-in-law, David and Karyn Green (of Sweetwater), and Becky and Gary Rayburn (of Tomball), as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.

Jay has now joined his daughter, Amy Elizabeth Soules Moch, in the embrace of our Lord and Savior. He was also preceded in death by his parents, E. V. (Pat) and Ruby Soules; brother, Virgil Soules; sister, Darnell Small and her husband, Carl; his parents-in-law, Boley and Alma Green; nephew, Johnny Soules; and niece, Michelle Rayburn.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts honoring Jay may be made to Faith Lutheran Church (1607 Josephine, Sweetwater, TX 79556); St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-3678); or to a charity of your choice.