Jason Cyphers, Operations Business Analyst with the Gas Department, regretfully passed away on Tuesday, September 12th.

Jason was employed with Greenville Utilities for a total of 25 years, with the last 22 in his current role with the Gas Department. He started at GUC in 1998 as a part-time Drafting Technician in the Electric Department, where he worked for about two years before briefly leaving to work for a surveyor. 

However, he came back in 2000 and wore a lot of different hats. From an Engineering Tech in the Water Department to Engineering Assistant in the Gas Department, he gained a wide range of experiences that took him to his most recent position in Gas.

As Operations Business Analyst, Jason supervised the Engineering Assistants, reviewed plans for new developments, and managed the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Work and Asset Management (WAM) systems for the Gas Department. Jason also worked closely with others to develop new, more efficient methods for performing work. He created a GIS portal to give Gas employees quick access to department statistics, key performance indicators, dashboards, and other important data. He also created the Department’s digital inspection reports and was instrumental in the development of the Department’s leak detection program that our gas contractors and employees use when conducting residential and commercial leak surveys each year. 

In addition to his day-to-day duties, Jason was a member of the Gas Department’s Pipeline Public Awareness Committee, served as a Cityworks project Gas core team member, and was a member of the City of Greenville/GUC Wellness Committee. He was also instrumental in many of GUC’s overall projects and efforts to move from paper to digital business processes, helping to create digital tools like the Safety Dashboard and Job Safety Briefing platforms used by all of our operating departments, Facilities, Stores, and Fleet.

Originally from the mountains of Virginia, Jason moved to North Carolina with his family in 1989. He graduated from J.H. Rose High School before attending Pitt Community College, where he received his Associate degree in Architectural Technology in 1999. 

Jason leaves behind his wife, Michelle; daughter, Charlotte Ashleigh; parents, Bill and Sharon Cyphers; brother, Chris Cyphers (GIS Technician II in GUC’s IT Department) and wife, Susan; parents-in-law, Bobby and Linda Elks; and sister-in-law, Rebecca Hagee and her husband, Luke Hagee (Water Quality Specialist I at GUC’s Water Treatment Plant); and nieces, Elise, Katherine, and Emma. 

Jason loved adventure, especially in the form of camping, hiking, backpacking, overlanding, and kayaking. He was also a volunteer of the Eastern Pines Fire/EMS Department for 25 years and in 2014, was named a lifetime member. In addition, he enjoyed wood-working and creating laser engraved products, and recently obtained his amateur radio license (W4CMJ).

Jason also served with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for 10 years as part of an aircrew that flew search and rescue, safety and security, and logistical missions. While in service, he also helped the Coast Guard Auxiliary's Public Affairs Department with video, audio, photography, and graphic design projects. 

Jason really loved what he did both on and off work, and his zeal was contagious. From his own words in 2016 and 2021, "I love being able to see the work I've done. I enjoy utilizing new technologies to design methods that make it easier to both collect and report information that is key to the safe operation of our gas system.”

Jason Ashley Cyphers Obituary