Dr. John Joseph “Jay” Tice IV, age 72, of Ridgeland, MS, passed away peacefully at his home on 18 August 2020. He succumbed to just over a year’s long struggle with Merkel Cell Carcinoma, surrounded by his wife, son and family pets. He will be remembered, among other things, for being full of life and for his tremendous positivity. Notable Jay-isms other than “Go Jackets!” included “I’m living the dream” and “have a great and glorious day.” Jay was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, but grew up all over the world due to his father’s Naval and diplomatic career. He was quite the young boy scientist, which guided his choices later in life and he remembered the 4th grade science fair as being a life altering event. Jay was a Distinguished Military Graduate from Virginia Military Institute with a B.S. in Chemistry and then received a M.S. in Analytical Chemistry as an EPA Fellow/Trainee and a PhD in Analytical Chemistry with a minor in mini-computer engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. His diverse and extensive work experience included academia, industry and non-profit associations. He was proud to have established and develop the Manufacturing Technology Center in Wytheville, Virginia, and then fill the role of Executive Director for over 10 years. It was here that he met and married his beloved wife, Dr. Elizabeth G. Tice, after being widowed for 5 years. Non-profit associationship is what prompted their relocation to the Magnolia State, where he spent several years as the Director of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Mississippi before retiring in early 2019. Mississippi was clearly his favorite state of residence and Jay declared he and his wife ‘naturalized Mississippians’ upon the birth of their only child, John Joseph Tice V. Jay served 9 years in the U.S. Army Reserves as an Infantry Officer attaining the rank of Captain. His hobbies and interests included sports/fitness, attending various cultural events, travel, military history (especially World War II) and college football/basketball. He was also an active member of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Madison, Mississippi, and proudly supported Catholic education. Jay was active in the Knights of Columbus, Council #9543, and had the honor of becoming a “Sir Knight” after joining the Fourth Degree Assembly. Surviving are his wife of 16 years, Dr. Elizabeth G. Tice, and son, John Joseph “JJ” Tice V; siblings Dr. Janice Tice and Don Collins of Tallahassee, Florida, and their children, Christopher J. and Veronique Tice of San Jose, California, and their children; nephews Christopher J. Tice II of San Jose, California, and James A. and Stephen P. Gonda of Carmel, California, and was preceded in death by his parents Captain (Ret) USN John J and Mary Joann Tice III of Fort Myers, Florida. Survivorship would not be complete without mentioning the family pets – Buzz the dog and Orangy the cat, both rescue animals. On Saturday, 22 August 2020 a rosary will be prayed beginning at 11:30 a.m. with the Mass of Christian Burial following at Noon at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Madison, Mississippi. For those unable to attend, the Mass will be live streamed on their YouTube Channel ( https://youtu.be/B9Cq_D_Rj1g ) and Facebook. Internment will be at the Natchez Trace Cemetery in Madison, Mississippi, following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations in Jay’s memory: the American Cancer Society, Saint Joseph Catholic School and the Mississippi Kidney Foundation.