Jay Crum, age 89, passed away December 9, 2024, at his home in McKinney, Texas. He was born on May 2, 1939, in McKinney, Texas, to J Y Crum and Martha (Waide) Crum.
Jay Crum graduated from McKinney High School in 1953, and went on to attend Texas A&M. He also attended the University of Texas at Austin and Southern Methodist University and ultimately graduated from the school of Journalism at TCU. Jay was a life-long TCU fan.
Jay Crum met his wife of 65 years, Betsy (Boog-Scott) Crum at TCU, and they were married in 1959.
Jay and Betsy first moved to Aransas Pass, where Jay was the editor of the local newspaper. After spending several years on the editorial side of the business, Jay moved to the sales side, where he found himself on Madison Avenue in New York, working for Women’s Day and Newsweek, and eventually CBS. Jay was promoted to a sales leadership role for CBS based in San Francisco and was most proud of being in charge of the launch of CBS’s cable arm. Jay’s career path ultimately brought the family back to Texas, where he was president of an advertising agency, and then Group Publisher for American Way, the in-flight magazine for American Airlines. Jay’s career moved his family throughout Texas and the United States, including to Amarillo, Dallas, New York, Chicago, California and back to his family homestead in McKinney, Texas. Jay was always so proud to be a Texan.
Jay was an avid reader, and very proud of his book collection. Even late in life, Jay was viewed as a resource for historical clarification and was a great storyteller.
Jay always loved his animals, especially his dogs. A long-time friend used to say he wanted to be reincarnated as an animal at Betsy and Jay’s place.
Jay had a myriad of hobbies, including fly fishing, and tying his own flies, photography, silver smithing, horseback riding, a member of the Cloudline Hounds, backpacking and canoeing. He once took a motorcycle trip from Texas all the way to Canada.
Jay is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Betsy), of McKinney, Texas; sons, Kirkpatrick Y Crum (Lauren Thurmond), of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Ross Campbell Crum (Tracy), of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren, Katherine Crum, Alice Crum, Caroline Crum, and Miller Crum; brother, Tom Crum (Mary); and a host of extended family members and friends, who will miss him dearly and forever cherish his memory.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents J Y and Martha Crum.