Funeral services for Dr. Jay Springman, age 79, of Faith, SD, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013 (note date change) at the United Methodist Church in Faith, SD. Pastor Lin Jennewein and Pastor Connie Eichinger will officiate. Burial with military honors will be in the Faith City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at the Faith Area Memorial Chapel in Faith and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Jay Kenneth Springman was born on October 1, 1933 in Gordon, NE, to Jesse DeWitt and Irma Leone (Matheson) Springman. He grew up in Gordon and graduate from Gordon High School in 1951.

Following his graduation he entered into military service during the Korean Conflict. He served for two years in the United States Army attaining the rank of Corporal. After his honorable discharge he pursued a college education. Jay graduated from Chadron State College with a Bachelor's of Science in Education.

He was then hired to teach English and Theatre at his home school of Gordon. He also continued his own education and earned his Master's of Arts Degree from Chadron State College. Jay then became the principal of Gordon High School. While teaching at Gordon, he received the honor of becoming Nebraska's ""Teacher of the Year.""

During this time, Jay was married to Esther Maretich. Three children, Janice, Mark and Carol were born to this union. In 1966 he was hired as an instructor of Theatre and Speech at Chadron State College. While there, Jay earned his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Nebraska, in Lincoln. He then accepted a position as Chairman of the Department of Speech and Theatre at Xavier University in New Orleans, LA. He held that position for over 12 years.

Jay and Dr. Carol Pratt, who was teaching at Arkansas State University decided to build a life together and moved to Arkansas. Jay began instructing courses for Arkansas State University, Black River Technical College and was chairman of the Department of Communications at Ridgecrest. He also developed courses in television and amateur radio for Ridgecrest. He was always a ""favorite teacher"" of many of his students who knew him lovingly as ""Doc"". He always enjoyed teaching students of all ages. In 1995, Jay was an Arkansas ""Teacher of the Year.""

Upon retirement, Jay and Carol moved to Faith, SD where Jay became active in civic affairs. He served on the Rail road Museum board, the committee which brought ""Sue"" the dinosaur to Faith and was elected to and served on the Faith City Council for a number of years. Jay loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them whenever he could.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Carol; son, Mark (Melissa) Springman, Gonzales, LA; daughters, Janice (Mark) Barton, El Dorado, AR and Carol (Jim) Pastor, Edgemont, SD; grandchildren, Mark's son, Josh, Janice's daughters, Elizabeth, Erica and Emily and Carol's daughter, Jessica.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; his parents; and a twin brother, Jesse Claris at age 2.