Jay Bennevell Banion was an active, funny, mischievous and resourceful young man. He had many good friends and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Excelling in martial arts, he held a fourth degree black belt in tae kwon do. With a passion for engines, he spent countless hours working on anything that ran. At 21 he enlisted in the Marine Corps, but six weeks before his ship date, a car accident tragically ended his life. His legacy of fixing things lives on through organ donation and the three lives he saved. His passion for living has inspired others to live life to the fullest or "Live like Jay."

Jay's Story

Bob and Linda Banion once read, "Time is not the measure of a full life. Living life to the fullest is what makes a life full." This is how they choose to remember their son, Jay Bennevell Banion.

Jay was an active, funny, mischievous, and resourceful young man. He was always on the move, going somewhere or doing something. He excelled in the martial arts and held a fourth degree black belt in tae kwon do. He had many good friends and was always willing to lend a helping hand.

Jay had a passion for anything with an engine, and he spent countless hours in the garage working on various cars, motorcycles, mini-bikes and go-karts. He could fix almost anything or at least give it a good try. The Banions' garage was littered with tools, engine parts, and various projects.

Soon after his 21st birthday, Jay enlisted in the Marine Corps and planned to attend aviation maintenance school following boot camp. But on March 3, 2011, just six weeks before his ship date, his parents received a call from the hospital that Jay had been in a car accident. Eighteen days later, Jay lost his battle for life.

Linda and Bob said: "Our only child was gone, and our lives were changed forever. We had never really given organ donation much thought, but when the medical staff approached us about donating Jay's organs, we knew immediately that it was what we needed to do. We hoped we might be able to spare other families the pain and anguish that we were experiencing by giving their loved ones a second chance at life."

Jay's legacy of fixing things lives on through his organ donation. He saved or enhanced three lives with his gifts of life. Jay's love and enthusiasm has left a lasting impact on his friends and family. As his parents and friends travel through their days, they remember his passion for living and try to live their lives to the fullest – to "Live Like Jay."