Jay M Lilyhorn

Celebration of Life Services for Jay M. Lilyhorn will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Monday, July 31, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Nora Mendyk, officiating. Private family burial will be held prior to the services at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Jay Morris Lilyhorn, 88 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Thursday, July 27, 2017 at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. Jay was born April 1, 1929 on the family farm near Funk, Nebraska, the third of four sons born to Henry Harlan and Mary M. (Smith) Lilyhorn. He received his primary education from District #21 rural school, and graduated from Bertrand High School with the class of 1946.

On September 27, 1952, he was united in marriage to Kathleen "Joy" Carlson at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege and they made their home on a farm north of Bertrand. They moved to Holdrege, and to this union two children were born: Jeff and Jane. Jay owned and operated Lilyhorn Land Leveling for over 30 years and later Lilyhorn Sand and Gravel.

Jay was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church, a member and officer of BPOE, a charter member of the Husker Power Club, and a founder of the Chapel of the Lake at Johnson Lake. He enjoyed grilling and fishing at the cabin on Johnson Lake in the summer, Husker Football games and hunting in the fall, soaking lutefisk for family and friends at Christmas and tending a garden in the spring. Family was very important and he never missed an athletic event or dance recital for his kids and grandkids. Being a good Swede, every day was a good day to meet for coffee with all his friends.​​

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers: Jack Lilyhorn and his wife, Hazel, Harlan Lilyhorn, Jr., and Douglas Lilyhorn; 3 nieces and 3 nephews.

He leaves to celebrate his life, his wife of almost 65 years, Joy Lilyhorn of Holdrege; two children: Dr. Jeff Lilyhorn and his wife Nancy of Reno, Nevada, and Jane Epley and her husband, Boyd of Lincoln, Nebraska; 3 grandchildren: J.R. Epley of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jenna Beideck and her husband, Chase of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Stefan Lilyhorn of San Diego, California; 2 great-grandsons: Cash and Colt Beideck; brother-in-law, Dean Carlson and his wife, Carolyn of Highland Ranch, Colorado; sisters-in-law: Mary Louise Lilyhorn of Holdrege, and Joan Lilyhorn of Bertrand; and a host of many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 30, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., with the family greeting from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Jay's honor for future designation by the family.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com .

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.