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Jay H. Ream, 85, of Brownstown, died Sunday in the hospice unit of Lebanon VA Medical Center after fighting colon cancer for several months.

A master of dry-set stonework, Jay spent his working life as an independent masonry contractor, and his stonework dresses homes and buildings across Lancaster and Lebanon counties. He also owned Ream’s Fireplace Shoppe in Talmage.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Faye Weidman Ream, who died in 2009.

Jay and Faye spent a good portion of their retired years summering in Ocean City, Md., where Jay worked part time at Oyster Bay Tackle. He loved to fish, and often would head out on his boat into the Isle of Wright Bay to catch flounder and blues.

An avid golfer, he was a former member of Conestoga Country Club and Lebanon Country Club. Throughout their lives, Jay and Faye traveled and golfed together.

He was a member of Conestoga Hunting Club, and made many great memories at the club’s cabin in Lycoming County.

Jay was very personable, and on any given Tuesday afternoon, you could find him giving a hard time to the old coots at Farmersville Auction.

He loved gardening and regularly grew roses and tomatoes.

Most of Jay’s life was spent in the Brownstown area. He was a baptized member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Brownstown and attended West Earl High School until 1945, when he joined the Army. He served as a surveyor for the 29th Engineers, based in Manila, Philippines, receiving the World War II Victory Medal.

He was a volunteer fireman in Brownstown and a member of Brownstown Lions Club. He was a Melvin Jones Fellow of Lions Club International.

Jay was a member of the Shriners and the Ephrata Blue Lodge #665 F.andA.M. since 1955.

Born in Bareville, he was a son of the late Harold and Luella Foltz Ream.

Surviving are two daughters, Kaye, wife of the late Robert S. Long, of Penryn, and Kandace, widow of the late Franklin Walters, of Lancaster; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a brother, Barry Ream, of Berks County.

A viewing will take place on Friday, August 1, 2014, from 2:30 to 3:30 pm, at the Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 11 N. Church St., Brownstown, followed by his funeral service at 3:30 pm, with Pastor Len Calhoun officiating. Interment will take place in the Brownstown Cemetery with full military honors accorded.

In lieu of flowers, send memorial donations to Lebanon VA Medical Center hospice unit, c/o Voluntary Service Office, Building 18, First Floor, 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon, PA 17042.

Arrangements by Stradling Funeral Homes, Inc., Akron/Ephrata.

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