Jay B. Peace, 88, of Closplint, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, July 17, 2023, at the Harlan ARH following a long illness. Born February 8, 1935 in Knox County, Kentucky, he had lived here most of his life.  Jay was a retired coal miner having worked as a roof bolter for Westmoreland Coal Co. and was a member of the UMWA.  He took great pride in restoring a 1967 Ford Bronco and entering it in car shows.  He also enjoyed small game hunting and mowing his yard, sometimes as often as twice a week.  He was a fan of Gunsmoke and other westerns on GRIT TV.  Most of all though, he loved playing with his grandchildren and their many toys.  Jay was a member of the Cloverfork Missionary Baptist Church and enjoyed listening to church on the radio after his health declined.

He is preceded in death by his wife and the love of his life, Bobbie Sue Saylor Peace; his parents, Lucy Wynn Peace and George Vincent Peace; four sisters, Jeanette Peace, Bernice Smith, Imogene Tolliver and Wilma Short; and a brother, Morris "Bud" Peace.

Survivors include five children, Dorothy J. "Dot" Peace, Closplint; Douglas Peace and wife, Angie, Somerset; Darrell Peace, Closplint; Danny Peace and wife, Sandy, Holmes Mill; and Deborah J. Peace, Holmes Mill; a sister, Shirley Morgan and husband, Jack, Dayton, OH; two brothers, George Peace, Jr., Kayjay, KY; and James Peace and wife, Earlene, Holmes Mill.  Also surviving are 15 grandchildren, Douglas J. Peace, Jr., James Brandon "Peewee" Peace (Stacy), Whitney Perkins, Lacie Perkins, Harley Breann Moore (Samuel Moore), Sidney Perkins, Joshua Peace, Kristy Bishop (Josh), Jayla Peace, Adam Peace, Shawn Peace, Jacqueline Caudill (Cole), Victoria Peace, Anissa Peace and Darrell J. "DJ" Peace; seven great-grandchildren, Brandon Thomas, Jesse Peace, Willow Maelynn Peace, Jocelyn Bishop, Isaiah Bishop, Hudson Moore and Lainey Jo Perkins; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

His visitation will be held Wednesday from 5 until 8 pm at the Evarts Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3 pm Thursday, July 20, 2023, in the Chapel of the Evarts Funeral Home with the Reverend David Napier and the Reverend Ronnie Boggs officiating.

Burial will follow in the Saylor Cemetery at Closplint with family and friends serving as pallbearers.

Evarts Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Jay Peace.