September 23, 2025

My family and I, we were touched by the death of your Father. May God lift up this time of grieving your beloved Father. Musa Nyamasa Marwa

September 21, 2025

Condolences from Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists. Mr Garber was a wonderful man, cherished his wife and family dearly, told me about their fun bicycle rides. He was a patient of mine for several years. May he rest in peace.
Pamela Pannafino 

September 19, 2025

Sue Rohrer Kershner. My earliest memory of my Uncle Jay was of him giving me his baseball glove.  He also instructed me that I could make this old glove flexible again if I worked oil into it with patience.  It worked. Second memory which has many repetitions were of the extended family excursions to French Creek and the fun of playing with my Daddy, Uncle Jay and Uncle Henry and diving or being catapulted off their strong shoulders into the blue waters over and over again. Third lasting memory is of him leading us in songs and worship.  With Uncle Jay, songs and worship were related.  His life was worship; praise to the Lord in everything…He ushered us into the Lord’s presence in whatever activity we were involved be it churning ice cream, target practice for hunting season or church services.  To be with our beloved Uncle Jay was to be near to the Lord…just not far away…ever.  His involvement with missions and the nitty gritty of missions drew me into his passion.  “How does one best introduce the Lord’s goodness and His amazing ways into a culture and people who don’t have a clue?”
Uncle Jay’s life and example always beckoned me to embrace his passion.  I long to see the richness of this secure, loving faith heritage embraced by the multitude of recipients and extended to the ends of the earth…to the end of this age with the making of disciples of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus will never leave us you know, and with Him His glory.   Thank You Uncle Jay! Susan Kershner

September 16, 2025

On behalf of our family in Ethiopia, we want to extend our deepest condolences on the passing of Jay. We are truly grateful for the kindness, care, and support he showed to our father, Getahun, during his time with you. Jay’s generosity and compassion will always be remembered and appreciated by our family.
Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May you find comfort in the love of family and friends, and may Jay’s memory be a source of strength and peace.
With heartfelt sympathy,Lucy Lapiso & Family

September 09, 2025

Because of Jay, I was able to secure a leave from my nursing job at Philhaven to work on a ship picking up   Vietnamese Boat People in the S. China Sea. When I was at the end of my leave but was asked to go on to volunteer in a refugee camp for Cambodian refugees in Thailand, Jay quickly and gladly extended my leave. I have always been grateful for his affirmation and encouragement that enabled me to have such a rich volunteer experience.  Ann King-Grosh

September 08, 2025

Here is a tribute I wrote about Jay entitled “My First Pastor.”
Some years before I was a thought, my Grandpa knew him well
He was there in troubled times, and sometimes it felt like hell
Over the years, these men stood firm, and though they differed in some
Their love of people and God’s word drew them both to come
And share and listen: confessions, joys, and trials they both knew
From homeless men to mental health, their relationship it grew
My Dad had known him for as long as pastor, and he hoped
That last message he’d surely preach, for Jay had helped him cope
And laughed and shared and taught young couples like those two
Their memories remain: that time was precious, fleeting, few
But then these young ones, how I wished I knew them at that age
Admired and still do even now, this one becoming sage
And for one couple, life would turn with sickness, birth, then death
This pastor and his wife stayed close until her final breath
And then that baby, motherless, the church filled and they sang 
“How sweet to hold a newborn baby,” the tears and cries they rang
And soon, an opportunity to bless a brand new family
Jay asked this husband and this Dad to think beyond these three
Would he rent the little house, furnished, filled, and stocked
To folks unknown, torn from their home, newcomers surely shocked
And Dad said yes as we had home with family who took us in
And I remember visiting this family, foreign yet kin
Over the years I’d visit, Jay was still the same
A smile would always greet me and everyone who came
Jay always loved the children and often had a special time
Christine, Ray, and another Jay would join me in the line
Those a cappella hymns, the piano instrumental opened
Each service felt so sacred, space for God and hope, and
More than what to this little boy felt like a huge, huge place
Like that, Grandpa was gone, and Jay was there to serve with grace
And then he asked this young adult, with energy never-ending
His summer plans, and if he would ever consider spending
The summer with the youth at that same old familiar church
I certainly felt special, called, and privileged, as if a search
Had ended with me, and that summer seemed to go by very fast
With challenges and encouragement, I learned so much alas
I have to stop and wonder if I’d come back summer next
What would that quiet Hess family have thought of this Stu Metz?
I had a lot more energy and loudness almost ten years before
2007, when we first met, I must have somewhat matured
But I digress, continuing my memory of this farmer
And pastor, we all know as our dear brother, Jay Garber
And then I met Jay and Lois at a wedding uninvited
A friend needed a ride and I got to come along besided
I had no earthly idea in that place was Laura Jean
But I was welcomed to their home to visit for you see
I had driven by their place for almost one full year
Not wanting to bother or to stop remembering the tears
That now still flow from grief I hadn’t yet begun to deal
Only now have I just started the layers back to peel
What a balm to visit with such friends who shared their grief with me
Losing their son, God provided a wondrous, blended family
They invited me to church, where I would soon meet Laura Jean
We were dating others, so our friendship grew unhindered, pure and clean
We would firm up our commitment with engagement at their home
Jay would do our ceremony, wedding us before God’s throne
Some years later, then I learned of Jay’s hobby: taping memories and then
What a blessing to discover Grandpa’s poems to hear again!
Now Jay’s home, and what a life he lived, faithful to our Lord
May we all be found as faithful as the finish we move toward
Stu Metzler

September 07, 2025

Our heartfelt condolences to Lois and all the family.
The world is a smaller place for the departure of this Soul. Jay related to many, many people. But when one was before him, he gave you his undivided interest and attention. Thank you, Jay, for the opportunity to share the pilgrim path with you.
Stephen & Ann Weaver

September 07, 2025

Cousins Lois & Family. May Jay Rest in Jesus’everlasting arms. What a kind man he was that served our Lord well. Deepest Condolences from our family to yours. 
J Clyde Shenk

September 06, 2025

I didn’t know you,  but my condolences are with your family and all who were acquainted with you.  I pray for healing and restoration. James Wolfe

September 05, 2025

Ken and I were so sad to hear of Jay’s passing. Jay’s father, Clarence, was about 92 when we moved on the farm, renting next to them. We have many fond memories of Jay as we headed the carpool to Philhaven for 10 yrs. We’ll never forget how many times he listened to the weather and commented on the beauty of the day. Ken & Kathy Yoder

September 04, 2025

God give you all so much peace and joy by the truth we embrace with the risen Christ Of God!
Having visited the farm and known members of the family is a great testimony of Papa’s life. Bsp Dr Kennedy Mbatia.

September 04, 2025

I and the entire Churches in the Masai  land we received this in a big shock ..but we are they very sorry for passed of our grand Papa may the Lord Jesus Christ give you strength in this hard time. His lifetime touch us very much and is the lesson to us give his life totally to serve God .
  We are together with you for prayer all the time.. Pastor Jackson Simon Mollel

September 04, 2025

I’m sorry to hear Jay has passed away but joyful to know he is at home with the Lord.  Jay and Lois were instrumental in bringing my family into New Danville Mennonite Church, nearly 15 years ago.  Travis Boston

September 04, 2025

Tumepokea kwa  mshtuko sana,tukio hili,but we praise the Lord  for his lifetime ,let the holy spirit strengthen you and your family during the hard time you have ,be with faith that we shall meet him in eternal life.glory to God. Ezekiel Ambrose