Jay Oyler

Jay D. Oyler, 68, of Kokomo, passed away at 8:42 a.m. on Monday, August 31st, 2026. Jay was born on October 21st, 1957, in Mansfield, Ohio, the son of John Oyler and Judith (Lindsay) Davis. He graduated from Oak Hill High School in 1976. Jay married Nancy (Flatford) Oyler on May 26th, 1995, in Sevierville, Tennessee. Together, they raised two kids and shared more than 31 years of marriage filled with many cherished memories. Jay D. Oyler loved life even when it wasn’t easy, and it often wasn’t easy. He faced more than his fair share of struggles but he never let it steal his joy, instead it made him kinder and wiser. He shared that wisdom with any who needed it - he was always ready to listen, offer guidance, or share a laugh or two. And he sure did love to laugh! Even in the darkest moments, and maybe especially in the darkest moments, he would make a joke or sarcastic comment and lighten the mood in the room. His strong sense of humor stayed with him to the very end. He took great pride in his family and always put them first. He loved spending time with them, whether it was taking a young Kristen to “the candy store” (the local gas station) or driving Amanda to the mall with the doors off of the Jeep. He was a fun and devoted Papaw to Amelia and Zoe, always taking the time to play games with them or teach them to swim or how to ride a bike. Beyond his family, Jay made friends with anyone he came across. He loved getting to know people, whether by trading stories (goodness knows Jay had stories) or just chatting about the weather. He could brighten up your day in just a couple of words and leave feeling richer himself. He loved classic cars and could tell you all about any driving by, partly because he owned plenty of them in his day. His favorite movie was The Wizard of Oz and he watched A Christmas Story on repeat every December. He loved the beach, swimming, and fishing. He loved figuring out how things worked and especially loved getting broken things working again. He believed he could fix anything with enough elbow grease and he was usually right. He was a special kind of dad that you could call for everything from a stalled car to a broken heart. He loved deeply and was so deeply loved. He will live on in the hearts of his family and friends. Every time they show kindness to others, choose to laugh in difficult times, or love life despite it all, he is still with us. Goodnight, love you, sweet dreams. Survivors include his wife, Nancy Oyler of Kokomo, IN; two daughters, Amanda (Eric) Jamison of Huntington, IN, Kristen (Victor Taylor) Oyler of Clarkston, GA; two granddaughters, Amelia and Zoe Jamison of Huntington, IN; two brothers, Jim (Pam) Oyler of Somerset, IN, Wade Oyler of Marion, IN; two sisters, Barb Kinzie of Marion, IN, and Deb Smith of LaFontaine, IN; as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, John Dalton Oyler, mother, Judith Ann Davis, and brother, Tom Oyler. A celebration of life will be held at The Garden House in Marion, IN on October 9th, 2026, from 3:30pm to 7:30pm. Preferred memorials to Turtle Survival Alliance, in care of Adkins Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington, IN, 46750. Please sign the online guest book at www.baileylove.com. Adkins Bailey-Love Mortuary is honored to serve the family of Jay D Oyler.

Jay Oyler

October 21, 1957 - August 31, 2026