Dr. John "Jay" Hix

Dr. John L. ("Jay") Hix died on November 24, 2018, at the age of 81. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, Louisiana on Thursday, November 29, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. His family will receive friends on Wednesday, November 28th from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Interment will be at the American Cemetery in Natchitoches. Jay was born on April 25, 1937, in Batesville, Arkansas, the only child of John A. and Monnie Hix. The family moved to Port Arthur, Texas where Jay attended high school. He went on to attain his Bachelor of Science degree from Lamar State University in Beaumont, Texas where he met and married Jo Condray. Upon graduating from Lamar, Jay earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Louisiana State University and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Marketing from the University of Arkansas in 1972. A life-long educator, Jay held teaching positions at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now ULL), Lafayette, Louisiana. Northwestern State University, McMurry University, Louisiana College, and overseas graduate programs for the University of Arkansas, Troy State University, and Boston University. Jay is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jo Condray Hix; his son Kenneth Hix and wife Missy Toups Hix of Lafayette, Louisiana; daughter Karen Hix Cherico and husband Tony Cherico of Rogers, Arkansas; grandson Austin Hix and wife Stephanie; and grandson Connor Hix. He will also be remembered by the many students who touched and enriched his life throughout the years.Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Burt Boone, Danny Seymour, Nettles Brown, Coy Birdwell, Pat Miller, Austin Hix, and Connor Hix. Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Best, Eugene Williams, and Bruce Cofer. The family wants to thank Jay's caregivers and friends Marilyn Cochran and Julie Scott, as well as the caring professionals from Circle of Life Hospice for their devotion to, and loving care of, Jay. He and the family were truly blessed to have them. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Natchitoches, Louisiana Choir Fund.