Jay Barrymore — A Brother in Spirit

Jay and I go way back. We’ve weathered plenty of ups and downs together — financially, emotionally, and everything in between. Our relationship has always felt more like brothers than friends, and like any brotherhood, we’ve had our share of disagreements. There were even stretches where we didn’t speak for years. But the foundation we built — shared experiences, hard lessons, and a lot of good memories — has always held.

Years ago, Jay ran two websites: one offering a photo tour of Las Vegas, and another capturing the spirit of Southern Louisiana. Life shifted, priorities changed, and he eventually stepped away from both projects. These days he keeps a quieter online presence at www.jaybarrymore.com, a small corner of the web that reflects where he’s been and who he is.

After retiring from a long career with the State of New Mexico, Jay and family left Albuquerque for Laughlin and eventually settled in Bullhead City, Arizona. He retired at 62 with a solid income and every intention of enjoying the freedom he’d earned. Unfortunately, life had other plans. Kidney failure and a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease reshaped the retirement he’d imagined — not the path anyone hopes for.

Then came January 2026. One night he passed out in his bathroom and was rushed to the emergency room in Bullhead City, eventually transported to Las Vegas. At one point during his stay, his heart stopped. Emergency staff performed CPR for six long minutes before they were able to bring him back. As of January 29, 2026, he’s scheduled for heart surgery, and we’re all hoping for the best. I’ll update the website when we know more.

Still, I hold out hope. Back in July 2025, there was talk of breakthroughs in kidney regeneration. If science catches up, maybe Jay’s road will get a little smoother — and maybe this surgery will buy him the time he needs. In the meantime, he still shares a beautiful home with his son Vernon and daughter Robyn, who continue to be a steady source of strength.

On a brighter note, I took a vacation to visit him and his family in May 2024. The drive from Decatur, Indiana to Bullhead City, Arizona took two long days — a challenge in anyone’s book — but worth every mile. I spent most of a week there and even managed to take Jay and Robyn on a day trip to California to visit my sister. We capped it off with a meal at Ruby Tuesday’s in Hemet, the kind of simple moment that sticks with you.

Jay has been a big part of my life — through the good, the bad, and everything in between. Whatever the future holds, I’m grateful for the bond we’ve built and the history we share.