Jay Irwin Dunson

Jay Irwin Dunson, 61, of Livingston, Texas, passed away unexpectedly on November 2, 2026.

Jay was born on May 26, 1965, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to George Dunson and Janis Valenta Dunson, joining his older brother, Jeff. He grew up primarily in Panorama Village near Willis, Texas, and graduated from Willis High School, where he was a talented three-sport athlete with a particular love for baseball. He treasured his lifelong friendships and especially enjoyed reconnecting with old friends in recent years.

In 1991, Jay met his person, his best friend, and his future wife, Jennifer, while they were both working at Dave & Buster's in Houston. They attended Stephen F. Austin State University together, married in November 1995, and graduated the following month. They moved to Livingston, intending to stay only briefly, but instead built a life there and raised their three children, Carter, Riley, and Drew.

Jay devoted his professional life to education, working as a teacher and coach in Tarkington and Shepherd before joining Livingston ISD as a physical education and behavior teacher. Following retirement, he discovered a new passion for broadcasting high school sports, enthusiastically calling everything from football to water polo. He was fairly certain ESPN was just one viral clip away from discovering him.

Jay was easygoing, endlessly curious, and effortlessly funny, with a wonderfully dry sense of humor. He could get along with just about anybody, and just about everybody loved Jay.

A fiercely loyal Houston sports fan, Jay loved his Astros, Rockets, and Texans. He was a walking encyclopedia of sports trivia and obscure statistics. His devotion to Houston was rivaled only by his hatred of the Dallas Cowboys and his decades-long refusal to forgive Bud Adams for moving the Oilers.

Jay loved music, particularly punk and alternative rock, and enjoyed rediscovering his old vinyl collection. He was also a talented tinkerer, remarkably tech-savvy, and an unapologetic packrat. Jennifer had long since surrendered the garage to his collection of electronics, cables, and treasures that Jay insisted might come in handy someday.

He loved unusual snacks, pickled foods, discovering new things, building sandcastles, searching for seashells, and bringing home rocks from his travels. He especially loved Colorado, the mountains, and escaping the Texas heat. Traveling and camping were an important part of family life, and Jay and Jennifer had explored 14 national parks with their children. They were eagerly planning even more adventures together in retirement.

A memorial service will be held Monday, November 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at the First Baptist Church in Livingston, Texas with Britt Dickens officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in Livingston, Texas.