CORUNNA — Jay Christian, age 77, of Corunna, passed away on Monday, October 10, 2016, at DeKalb Health in Auburn. Mr. Christian was born on Thursday, March 23, 1939, in Cow Hollow, near Bartley, West Virginia, in McDowell County, the son of the late John and Mabel Christian. Jay graduated from Big Creek High School in 1957, and he married Fairy Z. Harper on March 28, 1959, in Lebanon, Virginia. Jay moved to this area in 1962, when he was 23 years old, to go to work at the Kendallville Foundry. In 1968, he started into business for himself. He owned and operated Jay's Building and Roofing in Corunna for more than 40 years before retiring in 2009. Jay was also a volunteer fireman with the Corunna Volunteer Fire Department for more than 40 years. He was Fire Chief for 25 of those years. He was a Master Fire Fighter and recipient of a Certificate of Achievement from State Senator Robert Meeks. He was honored with the Distinguished Hoosier award given to him by Governor Joseph Kernan in 2004 for his lifelong dedication of service to the community of Corunna. He was a former Justice of the Peace and town manager of Corunna and was currently a board member on the town council. Survivors include: daughters, Stephanie and Mike Mayberry of Corunna and Deb and Greg Tipton Elkhart; son, Shawn Christian of Panama City Beach, Florida; daughter of the heart, Lori and Dusty Bock of Waterloo; seven grandchildren and one great -grandchild. Three brothers and seven sisters also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, one brother, and his wife, Fairy, who preceded him in death on February 14, 2012. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2016, at Hite Funeral Home, 403 South Main Street in Kendallville with Rev. Scott Tilley officiating the funeral service. Burial will take place at the Corunna Cemetery following the service. Visitation with the family is Friday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Hite Funeral Home. There will be a ceremony honoring Jay's longtime dedication and volunteer service to the Corunna Fire Department at 7:00 p.m. conducted by the Indiana Volunteer Fireman's Association. Memorial donations may be directed to the DeKalb Humane Shelter or Corunna Volunteer Fire Department. Send an online condolence to the family at www.hitefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Hite Funeral Home of Kendallville.