James "Jay" Harold Files passed away on May 22, 2026, at the age of 89, surrounded by his loving family. Born on March 16, 1937, in Louisville, Mississippi, he was the child of James B. Files and Elsie Bane Files. Jay graduated from Louisville High School and earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University and an M.S. from the University of Mississippi.
In 1961, after three months of active duty, he was honorably discharged from the US Army and transitioned to the Army Reserve. There, he served as a Radiation Safety Officer, advising on the design of fallout shelters and teaching at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He was then hired by Boeing in Huntsville, Alabama, to pioneer the use of computer-aided finite element analysis for Redstone Arsenal and NASA's Apollo Program. He substantially contributed to the design of the Lunar Roving Vehicle and the swing arms on the Saturn V Launch Umbilical Tower.
He then took his specialized skills to McDermott in New Orleans, designing offshore oil platforms. He finally moved to Houston to launch his company, LaSalle Marine, which offered innovative, highly engineered marine fenders designed specifically for offshore platforms. After the 1986 oil crash, he was hired by Italian manufacturer Belleli to design heavy-wall pressure vessels for the refining and petrochemical industry.
He reinvented himself yet again by joining Tejas Boiler Services, which supplied and serviced ultra-low emission industrial boilers. Later, he established LoNOx Systems as an independent manufacturers' representative for the power and petrochemical industries in Texas. In 2012, his son Jason joined LoNOx Systems, and they worked together every day for the next 13 years. Jay continued working until he became ill at the age of 88.
Outside of his career, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, coaching sports, watching Western classics, and dancing with his wife, Barbara. He loved gathering family and friends around an outdoor fire pit — bourbon and cigar in hand — no matter how warm the weather. He was a dedicated fan of the Houston Astros, Texas Aggies, and Mississippi State Bulldogs. He was known for his intelligence, integrity, persistence, sarcastic wit, sly smile, laughing eyes, and devotion to his family.
He was deeply involved in his children's lives, supporting his daughters' equestrian pursuits, participating in his sons' Scouting activities, and coaching numerous soccer and baseball teams. He loved to travel with his family, sharing countless road trips, ski vacations, and other memorable adventures around the world. Closer to home, Jay was a member of the Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Therrell. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Files; his former wife, Glenda Moore; his sister, Elaine (Tommie) Jefcoat; his sons, Brian and Jason; his daughters, Erica (Tom) Jones and Jessica (Zach) Liff; and his grandchildren, Mari and Ethan Liff. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.
On June 6, 2026, a celebration of Jay's life and a natural burial will be held at his daughter's farm in Nashville, Tennessee. If you would like to join us in remembrance, please RSVP using the link below.
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James "Jay" Harold Files passed away on May 22, 2026, at the age of 89, surrounded by his loving family. Born on March 16, 1937, in Louisville, Mississippi, he was the child of James B. Files and Elsie Bane Files. Jay graduated from Louisville High School and earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University and an M.S. from the University of Mississippi.
In 1961, after three months of active duty, he was honorably discharged from the US Army and transitioned to the Army Reserve. There, he served as a Radiation Safety Officer, advising on the design of fallout shelters and teaching at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He was then hired by Boeing in Huntsville, Alabama, to pioneer the use of computer-aided finite element analysis for Redstone Arsenal and NASA's Apollo Program. He substantially contributed to the design of the Lunar Roving Vehicle and the swing arms on the Saturn V Launch Umbilical Tower.
He then took his specialized skills to McDermott in New Orleans, designing offshore oil platforms. He finally moved to Houston to launch his company, LaSalle Marine, which offered innovative, highly engineered marine fenders designed specifically for offshore platforms. After the 1986 oil crash, he was hired by Italian manufacturer Belleli to design heavy-wall pressure vessels for the refining and petrochemical industry.
He reinvented himself yet again by joining Tejas Boiler Services, which supplied and serviced ultra-low emission industrial boilers. Later, he established LoNOx Systems as an independent manufacturers' representative for the power and petrochemical industries in Texas. In 2012, his son Jason joined LoNOx Systems, and they worked together every day for the next 13 years. Jay continued working until he became ill at the age of 88.
Outside of his career, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, coaching sports, watching Western classics, and dancing with his wife, Barbara. He loved gathering family and friends around an outdoor fire pit — bourbon and cigar in hand — no matter how warm the weather. He was a dedicated fan of the Houston Astros, Texas Aggies, and Mississippi State Bulldogs. He was known for his intelligence, integrity, persistence, sarcastic wit, sly smile, laughing eyes, and devotion to his family.
He was deeply involved in his children's lives, supporting his daughters' equestrian pursuits, participating in his sons' Scouting activities, and coaching numerous soccer and baseball teams. He loved to travel with his family, sharing countless road trips, ski vacations, and other memorable adventures around the world. Closer to home, Jay was a member of the Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Therrell. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Files; his former wife, Glenda Moore; his sister, Elaine (Tommie) Jefcoat; his sons, Brian and Jason; his daughters, Erica (Tom) Jones and Jessica (Zach) Liff; and his grandchildren, Mari and Ethan Liff. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.
On June 6, 2026, a celebration of Jay's life and a natural burial will be held at his daughter's farm in Nashville, Tennessee. If you would like to join us in remembrance, please RSVP using the link below.
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