Jesse Kersey “Jay” Guest, Jr. passed away early Thursday afternoon, June 18, 2026.
A funeral service has been set for Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 11:00 AM at First Baptist Church of Paris with Dr. Tommy Turner officiating. The family receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service time. A private interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery. Family and friends are also invited to a Celebration of Life for Jay and his late wife, Patsy Guest, from 3 to 5 PM at the Paris Golf & Country Club.
Jay Guest was born in Dallas, Texas, on August 7, 1946, to Lillie Mae and Jesse K. Guest.
A lifelong achiever from his earliest years, Jay earned the rank of Eagle Scout and was a recipient of the God & Country Award. He was also selected into the Order of the Arrow and received the Vigil Honor, scouting’s highest distinction for service.
Jay attended Paris schools and graduated from Paris High School in 1964, where he played on the 1965 golf team. He went on to attend Paris Junior College before graduating from East Texas State University in 1968 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in economics and finance. At ETSU he played on the 1966 golf team and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta social fraternity.
On August 17, 1968, Jay married Patsy Bratcher. Together they built a full and devoted life, and Jay took great pride in his family.
Jay’s professional life was rooted in the paper industry. He joined Guest Paper Co. in 1968 and became President of Guest Paper in 1976, leading the company until it was sold to American Sanitary in 1998.
A tireless servant of his community, Jay gave generously of his time and leadership. He served as Past President and Chairman of the Red River Valley Boys and Girls Club, the Paris Rotary Club, the Paris Golf & Country Club, the Paris Housing Authority, the Paris Economic Development Corp., and Southwest Paper Merchants and Allied Products.
He also served as a past board member of the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce, the Lamar County American Heart Association, the Red River Valley Surgical Center, the Lamar County Human Resource Council, Lamar County Junior Achievement, the Boys and Girls Club Foundation of Red River Valley, and the Lamar County Coalition of Business, Education, and Industry. In addition, he served on the First National Bank of Paris and Wisconsin Tissue Advisory Councils and the St. Joseph Hospital / Christus Health Care board.
Jay’s service was recognized many times over. He was named the 1997 Lamar County Small Business Person of the Year and honored on the 2002 Boys and Girls Club Wall of Honor. He served as Past Chairman of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Gala and was a recipient of the Greater Paris Rotary Club Rotarian Service Award and the Paris Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow. He also served the City of Paris as Mayor Pro Tem and as a member of the Paris City Council.
Jay was preceded in death by his brother, Kenny Guest, in 1945; his father, Jesse Kersey Guest, in 1976; his mother, Lillie Mae Sandlin Guest, in 2011; and his wife, Patsy Guest, in 2020.
He is survived by his brother, Joel Guest, and wife Susan Guest; his son, Jason Guest, and wife Linnann Guest of Austin; and two granddaughters, Emerson Stivers and husband Caleb Stivers of Kerrville, and Kendall Guest of Austin. He is also survived by four nieces, Holly Darroh and husband Steven of Austin, Sara Breland and husband Cody of Houston, Jessica Crawford of Paris, and Maggie McClain and husband Steven of Paris; and by cousins, Don Guest and wife Sue of Arlington, Texas, Gwynn Herrick of Euless, Janann Moffitt of San Diego, Jim Giffin of Southlake, Roscoe Sandlin and David Sandlin of Atlanta, Georgia, and Ann Sandlin Taylor of Hockley, Texas.
The family expresses its appreciation to the many caregivers with Embark Care, Platinum Home Health and Platinum Palliative and Hospice Care for their faithful love and service over the years. Special thanks are also expressed to the 4th floor staff of Paris Regional Health for the excellent care they extended to Jay during his lengthy hospital stay. The family is grateful for their many friends, especially the dedication and availability of Vickie and Clyde Pickens, as well as the members of First Baptist Church and his Adult Sunday School group for their prayers, visits, and messages.
Serving as pallbearers are Mike Anderson, Wayne Brown, Rodney Flippen, Bob Long, Clyde Pickens, and Don Wilson. Serving as honorary pallbearers are James Callaway, Curtis Fendley, Sam Morrone, and Paul Trull.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Red River Valley, the First Baptist Church of Paris, or a charity of one’s choice.
Online condolences may be sent to the Guest family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com
