Jay Cummings of Midland passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 13, 2014 in Midland Texas. He was 82. Jay was born on April 28, 1932 to the home of Ereth Maxwell Cummings and Ruby Lee Cummings in Portales, NM. He has lived in Midland since 1970. Jay began a career with the Atlantic Refining Company on a seismograph crew in 1951 and retired as a supervisor for wireline operations for ARCO Oil and Gas 38 years later. Retirement did not end his love for his work and the oilfield and Jay continued working for Unitex Wireline Services for 17 years.A sharp mind and talented hands enabled him to succeed at tinkering with equipment on the job or on a home or automotive project. He loved helping others and people sought him out to solve problems. Jay was extremely generous, oftentimes gifting people secretly either with a present or by lending a helping hand. His family will remember him for the kind, giving nature he constantly modeled.Jay also loved to play tennis, participating in tournaments and playing daily in the Midland Tennis Club for many years. His tennis partners spoke of his competitive, but friendly spirit.He met Lacretia Wilks in 1951 in Lovington, NM and a year later, Aug. 16, 1952 the couple was married in Fort Sumner, NM. The couple raised their family first in Lovington and then in Midland.Jay is survived by his wife, Lacretia; a son, Stephen, of Midland; a daughter, Ann and husband, Mike Smith, of Houston; a grandson, Taylor and wife, Cayla Smith, of College Station; a granddaughter, Aubrey Smith, of Denver; a great-granddaughter, Aurora Smith, of College Station; two sisters, Judy Terry of Portales, NM and Becky Cummings of New Mexico; and a brother-in-law, David H. Stratton, Ph.D., of Pullman, WA.He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Wanda Stratton.A visitation will be on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Nalley- Pickle & Welch Funeral Home in Midland. Services will be held at First Baptist Church Chapel of Midland, on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend David Johnson and E. J. Bradshaw officiating. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.,
