It is with great sadness but deep gratitude for his life that we say goodbye to our beloved “Podna,” Joseph Jay Crittenden. He went home to the Lord on Saturday, July 4, 2026.

Above all, he was a healer and educator. Jay’s incredible drive to constantly improve at everything he did was matched only by his joy for life and love of his family. Born in Centralia, Illinois on August 10, 1933, Jay was the youngest of 10 children of John Jay Crittenden and May Middleton Crittenden. He often recounted the story of his mom telling him, “Son, you are going to be either a minister or a doctor.”

Medicine won out. Jay’s practice of diagnostic radiology and radiation oncology spanned 64 years. He was considered a pioneer in the field of Diagnostic Ultrasound. He published dozens of journal articles, presented at many medical conferences, and sat on numerous medical boards and committees. He was honored to speak at the Mayo Clinic Rochester. After first “retiring” in 1998 from West Florida Hospital in Pensacola, Jay kept working part time as a radiologist into his nineties and served as Assistant Professor of Radiology at the University of South Alabama. At the age of 77, he retook his medical boards in 2010 so he could obtain a state license to practice at Monroeville Hospital in Alabama. Among Jay’s many accolades were three prestigious fellowships from the American College of Radiology, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound. He was presented the Presidential Recognition Award from the AIUM and the Florida Radiologic Society Gold Medal.

Jay also served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War and worked at the Navy hospital in Yokosuka, Japan. There he went above and beyond his duties as a radiologist to provide care for severely wounded soldiers. Jay attained the rank of Commander during his two years of service.

In 1976, working hand in hand with his wife Leta, they founded the Florida Institute of Ultrasound, one of the first ultrasound schools in the country. Training hundreds of ultrasound technologists (including several family members) over four decades, they forever shaped the future of Diagnostic Ultrasound.

Fulfilling his mother’s ministry prophecy, Jay and Leta led the St. Luke’s United Methodist Church mission trip to Ecuador for 19 consecutive years, providing medical treatment to more than 10,000 children and their families. Multiple friends and family members (some of whom performed ultrasound imaging) participated in these missions over the years. One of Jay’s lasting impacts there was cofounding a free mammogram program for local Ecuadorian women. Singing in the St. Luke’s choir for decades rekindled Jay and Leta’s avocation for voice. Along with grandson Hayden Davis, they began entertaining at local restaurants and retirement homes. Their son Greg Davis soon joined the group in 2014 and the Critt-Davis singers were born. Multiple family and friends participated including Hylton Davis, Brad Davis and Bill Simmons, with occasional appearances by Anna Crittenden and Jeff Davis. Most memorable were the group’s performances at Goat Lips, a local brewery and restaurant. These lively shows included audience participation, attracting large crowds on Sunday evenings for years. A recent cherished memory of Jay’s was Laurel Davis Roberts joining him and Leta singing to sister Doris on her 100th birthday.

Jay’s love of athletics was fundamental to his life. From high school basketball to pickleball at age 90, he excelled at many sports. Basketball was his first love. Jay scored a school-record 35 points in his first college basketball game at Wabash College in Indiana. He shared his love of the sport with his kids John, Julie, and Jamie, coaching them in their youth. He continued to play recreational basketball into his forties. Golf was another longtime passion for Jay; at one point he reached a handicap of 2 and sponsored local aspiring professional golfers. He kept playing golf until the final months of his life. Jay was also a skilled tennis player known for his powerful serve. He conquered the world of long distance running, completing 10 full Marathons, multiple 5 and 10k’s, a half Ironman Triathlon, and dozens of sprint triathlons, adding swimming and cycling to his repertoire.

But no sport captivated Jay later in life like downhill skiing. Starting in his 50’s he quickly

became an expert skier, winning over 40 gold medals in NASTAR racing.

In 1989, he and Leta purchased a condo in Big Sky, Montana. It would become a second home for them and they developed longtime friendships with ski instructors and other locals. They spent many happy times there; at one point Jay skied 45 days in a row. Big Sky was a place of many wonderful memories: family ski trips, “men’s weeks”, and summer family hiking. Jay continued to ski until the age of 89. Central to Jay’s devotion to sports was sharing his abilities with others and through athletics he cultivated deep personal relationships. A perfect day for Jay was participating in any sporting endeavor with his family and friends. His ability to coach and instruct was legendary. In his words, no child or grandchild was spared. He approached sports the way he approached life: head on, with passion and a relentless drive to improve and help others do so. No list of accomplishments could encapsulate who Jay was. He was an honorable man who innately treated anyone he met with equal respect and dignity. Very few people remained so relevant in people’s lives for as long as Jay. No one would dispute he became both a doctor and a minister. With a language all his own, our “Doccy” was irreplaceable and a special spirit, whom we will keep in our hearts forever.

Jay is preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and a son, John Jay Crittenden, MD.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 43 years, Leta Crittenden; daughter, Julie Crittenden Abshire (Louis); sons, Jamie Crittenden (Kim), Jimmy Davis (Linda), and Greg Davis; Grandchildren include, Sarah Crittenden, Matt Crittenden, Mark Crittenden, Anna Crittenden, Kate Crittenden, Mark Abshire, Chris Abshire, Elise Abshire, Melissa Davis, Sydney Davis, Josh Davis, Hunter Harthun, Hylton Davis, Hayden Davis, Harper Davis; Great grandchildren are, Nick Baston, Joshua Baston, Ezrael Davis, Selah Davis, Jack Crittenden, and Sophia Crittenden.

A celebration of life will be held at Azalea Trace Retirement Community on Saturday, August 8th, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to your charity of choice.