Jay Emerson Black

Jay Emerson Black, age 68, passed away peacefully in his home on August 11, 2025, after bravely living with ALS.

He was born July 24, 1957, to Emmerson Paul Black and Wanda Lorene Collum in Alma, Nebraska – don’t worry OU fans, they soon moved to Waurika, Oklahoma his hometown. Growing up in a small town, everyone knew each other and became lifelong friends. He was a great baby brother to sisters Sharon Ann McKay and Paula Lorene Riddle and shared a lifetime of memories.

Jay attended Oklahoma University and quickly became a devoted OU Sooner Football Fan. One of his early jobs was working with children at the OKC Parks Dept. He also worked installing cablevision before returning to school for gerontology and earning his Nursing Home Administrator License to help run the Waurika nursing facility. Later, he moved back to Edmond and worked at Crest Foods as a Deli/Bakery Buyer for 18 years before retiring in 2022. Jay enjoyed deep connections with his coworkers and loyal customers.

Jay was married to Gail Lynn Bennett for over 44 years, sharing many adventures together. They loved racing and sailing Catamaran Sailboats and spending time at the lake. Each year he looked forward to OU Football season and tailgating. Boomer Sooner! In his free time, he enjoyed reading novels and listening to great music (too loudly). The joy of Jay’s life was his two children, Lynsi Graham Rhodes and Taylor Emmerson Black, and later his son-in-law, Ryan Rhodes, and his three grandchildren, Max, Theo, and Nora Rhodes. He loved to entertain and make people laugh, flourishing as a proud, goofy Papa. He took pleasure in all his family including cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Though Jay’s time here ended too soon, his generosity, humor, and love will echo through the lives of those blessed to know him.

Services will be held Tuesday, August 19, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Matthews Funeral Home Chapel in Edmond, OK.

If desired a donation in Jay’s name to the ALS association may be made at: ALS.org.

We will be live streaming this service, to watch the service CLICK HERE to go to our YouTube page. Click on 'Videos', then 'Live Streams'.