John A. Bay, Jr., 78, of Everett, died Oct. 27, 2006, two weeks after learning he had advanced cancer.

He retired in June, 1990 from Ventura, Calif., Unified School District, and moved to Oak Harbor for a year before settling in Eugene, Ore., where he lived for 10 years, working as a volunteer coach with track and field athletes at Sheldon High School.

He married Suzanne Buchanan in June, 2003 and moved to Everett, where he coached cross country and track at Cascade High School.

He is survived by his devoted family, including his wife, Suzanne Bay; his daughter and son–in-law, Joan and Matthew Klope of Oak Harbor; his son Brian Bay of Corvallis, Ore.; stepson and daughter-in-law Brook and Jeffie Buchanan of Renton; stepdaughter Brittany Buchanan of Everett; grandchildren Megan Klope of Ellensburg, Katelyn Klope and Daniel Klope of Oak Harbor and Patrick McKillop-Bay of Corvallis; his brothers, Hugh Bay of Fresno, Calif., and Ethan Bay of Miner’s Oaks, Calif.; sister Carolyn and brother-in-law Wallace Whittington of Georgetown, Texas, sister Sandra and brother-in-law Billy Bacon of Council Grove, Kan.; and a host of nieces and nephews who loved and admired him dearly.

A celebration of his life will be held Sunday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Everett. At John’s request, memorial donations can be made to the Everett Public Schools Foundation, P. O. Box 3112, Everett, WA 98203, designate the John Bay Memorial Track Scholarship. Funds will benefit the cross country and track and field programs at Cascade High School in Everett and Oak Harbor High School.