1961
Jay
2017
Jay Baxley
September 16, 1961 — October 8, 2017
Jay William Starr Baxley, age 56 passed away on Sunday, October 8, 2017 in Vernon, Texas. Jay was enjoying one of his many passions, flying. Jay was born on September 16, 1961 as Michel Detlef Blocker in Darmstadt, West Germany. Jay was adopted soon after birth by William Edward Baxley and Helen Catherine Klein Baxley and his name was changed to Jay William Starr Baxley. At the age of 4, he obtained his naturalization and the new family moved to El Paso, Texas. Jay was adored by his parents Bill and Helen and lived a dream childhood. He moved to Capitan, New Mexico in elementary school and soon became interested in horseback riding, hunting and shooting. These passions would follow him into adulthood where he enjoyed them to the fullest.
When he entered high school the family moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Jay’s passion for dentistry began at the age of 14 when he became a dental assistant for a prosthodontist and oral surgeon. He studied everything these two specialists did from dentistry to business to how to have a great chairside manner. This early training would mold and shape his entire career. Jay graduated sixth in his class of 612 from Fort Walton Beach High School in 1978.
After graduation the family moved to El Paso, Texas and Jay started looking at colleges. He soon settled on Baylor University in Waco, Texas. It was while in college that he discovered his love of adventure! He learned to skydive and became a jumpmaster / instructor from 1979-1982.
In 1984 he received his private pilot’s license and over the next several years became single, multi-engine, jet & commercial instrument rated. Flying was his greatest passion. He would tell anyone that being in the air above the clouds was the freest and best feeling he had ever experienced.
Jay graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas in 1986. He opened his first office in Austin, Texas just one year later. In 1993, Jay moved to Arlington, Texas where he opened what became one of many successful dental practices in the area. In 2013 Jay decided to slow his life down a little and he purchased a practice in Vernon, Texas. The people in Vernon welcomed him and he soon became a town favorite.
Jay was a member of the Texas Dental Association, The American Dental Association, The American Society of Forensic Odontology, and the Fort Worth District Dental Society. He served as the president of the Arlington Dental Study Club as well as the Board of Directors for Dental Health Arlington from 1997 to 1999. He held a position on the Peer Review Committee, the Judicial Committee and he was a past president of the Fort Worth District Dental Society. He was Chairman for the Council on Ethics & Judicial Affairs for the TDA.
Predeceasing Jay were his parents, William Baxley of Waco, Texas and Helen Baxley of El Paso, Texas. He is survived by his two daughters, Erin Baxley of Arlington, Texas and Haley Baxley of Arlington, Texas and his grand-daughter, Bentley Gorman of Arlington, Texas.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at Emerald Hills Funeral Home & Memorial Park.
When he entered high school the family moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Jay’s passion for dentistry began at the age of 14 when he became a dental assistant for a prosthodontist and oral surgeon. He studied everything these two specialists did from dentistry to business to how to have a great chairside manner. This early training would mold and shape his entire career. Jay graduated sixth in his class of 612 from Fort Walton Beach High School in 1978.
After graduation the family moved to El Paso, Texas and Jay started looking at colleges. He soon settled on Baylor University in Waco, Texas. It was while in college that he discovered his love of adventure! He learned to skydive and became a jumpmaster / instructor from 1979-1982.
In 1984 he received his private pilot’s license and over the next several years became single, multi-engine, jet & commercial instrument rated. Flying was his greatest passion. He would tell anyone that being in the air above the clouds was the freest and best feeling he had ever experienced.
Jay graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas in 1986. He opened his first office in Austin, Texas just one year later. In 1993, Jay moved to Arlington, Texas where he opened what became one of many successful dental practices in the area. In 2013 Jay decided to slow his life down a little and he purchased a practice in Vernon, Texas. The people in Vernon welcomed him and he soon became a town favorite.
Jay was a member of the Texas Dental Association, The American Dental Association, The American Society of Forensic Odontology, and the Fort Worth District Dental Society. He served as the president of the Arlington Dental Study Club as well as the Board of Directors for Dental Health Arlington from 1997 to 1999. He held a position on the Peer Review Committee, the Judicial Committee and he was a past president of the Fort Worth District Dental Society. He was Chairman for the Council on Ethics & Judicial Affairs for the TDA.
Predeceasing Jay were his parents, William Baxley of Waco, Texas and Helen Baxley of El Paso, Texas. He is survived by his two daughters, Erin Baxley of Arlington, Texas and Haley Baxley of Arlington, Texas and his grand-daughter, Bentley Gorman of Arlington, Texas.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at Emerald Hills Funeral Home & Memorial Park.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jay Baxley, please visit our flower store.