Jay A. Williamson Jr. (1938-2021)

FARMINGTON FALLS – Jay A. Williamson Jr. passed away on June 29, 2021, at home with his wife and family.

He was born on Feb. 25, 1938 to Jay Andrew Williamson and Mildred May (Borger) Williamson of Kearny, New Jersey. He attended schools in Kearny and graduated from Kearny High School. As a youngster, he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, where he learned camping and the enjoyment of wildlife observation.

After high school graduation, Jay joined the U.S. Navy, traveling extensively around the globe, finishing his tour on the USS Essex aircraft carrier. After being honorably discharged, he attended some college courses but did not earn a degree. Jay had numerous occupations but none that felt fulfilling and fitting his unique talents.

He moved to Maine in the 60s spending a lot of time in Franklin with his cousin, who was an ex-Naval CB engineer, and learned that Maine had a lot to offer. After the Maine I-95 north contract ended, he declined the company’s offer to keep him on as Muck & Ledge estimator, because he did not want to leave Maine. He graduated from Oklahoma Farriers School where he learned forge work, horse trimming and shoeing.

He located himself in Augusta where he met Kathryn Fogarty of New Vineyard (his wife of 50 years) in 1970. They married in 1971, and moved to Farmington Falls in 1974 where they remained and raised three children. Jay opened the first year-round professional tax preparation and consultation service for the area in Farmington Falls. This was a “fit;” he got excited about the challenge and put his whole being into being the best he could be at this occupation, sharing his knowledge with his cliental to help them help themselves. Jay and Kathy operated the Hobnob Shop art store for several years. When the oil crisis of the late 70s hit, they closed the shop to focus on the cliental and moving the office into their home. Kathy joined him in the late 1980s, scheduling and assisting in the office. Jay retired in 2011, calling an end to his chosen profession. In December of 2016, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and just weeks before his death with pancreatic cancer.

Jay demonstrated a great sense of right and wrong. He would analyze problems and research solutions to the point of exhaustion and hoped that he had instilled his work ethic in each of his children, whom he loved. Although, he was not the cuddly type, he was so proud of his three children and nine grandchildren. Many times in his effort to not show favoritism, he went the other way (seemingly not caring) and wanting his children to grow and learn from their experiences. If you did well there were not many accolades, and if you did poorly you almost could not hear the end of it. As well meant, this was many times hard to deal with.

Jay is survived by his brother, Ronald Williamson of Aston, MD; Jay’s family – wife, Kathryn Williamson and his children and their families all of Farmington Falls: Aaron Williamson and wife Cynthia and children, Robert Kurek (step-grandson of Surry, VA), Aaron Jr., Kenneth, Sylvia and Timothy; Bryan Williamson and wife Carola and children, Erick and Nicholas; Kristin Mason and husband Adam and children, Henry and Alexander; many cousins and relatives throughout the U.S., too many to mention. He was predeceased by his parents.

No funeral services are planned. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 48 Farmington Falls Rd., Farmington, ME 04938.