Obituary for Jay R. Montgomery
Jay Ronald Montgomery, 86, of Bellefonte, passed away on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College. Born on February 25, 1936, in Lewistown, he was the son of the late Jay V. and Sara Montgomery. In 1958, he married his beloved wife, Vivian K. (Boston) Montgomery, of Wormleysburg, Pennsylvania, who survives him at home after sharing 64 years of marriage together.
Jay was a 1954 graduate of Lewistown High School. He attended Temple University School of Pharmacy, where he graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy in 1958. He began his career with Rea & Derick Drug Stores in Camp Hill, Lancaster, and Steelton as an assistant pharmacist and later as a pharmacy manager.
In 1965, Jay and Vivian purchased Parrish Drug Store in Bellefonte, which was established in 1891 by C.M. Parrish. Jay was assisted by his uncle, pharmacist William Swanger, until 1984 when Jay and Vivian’s son, David, graduated from Temple University School of Pharmacy and joined the family business.
Jay and Vivian’s children, grandchildren, and countless others from the community, most notably Carol Hockenberry, joined them in serving their customers in the mom-and-pop business.
Jay loved serving the many generations of families who made Parrish Drug Store their family drug store. Each person that came in had their own unique story to share with Jay and Vivian. Their stories became a part of Jay and Vivian’s own story. They truly loved being a part of their lives, whether through laughter or tears. The penny candy counter was Vivian’s passion and she loved bringing smiles to many generations of children. Jay suspected Vivian gave away more candy than she actually sold.
In October 2019, Jay and Vivian closed Parrish Drug Store after 54 years of serving the community, with Jay retiring as a pharmacist at the age of 83.
In addition to his wife, Vivian, he is survived by his sons, David Montgomery (Kimberly) of Pleasant Gap, and Matthew Montgomery of Bellefonte, and his daughter, Rhonda McMullen of Dillsburg; four grandchildren, Nicholas Montgomery (Valerie) of Hollidaysburg, Benjamin Montgomery of Lakeland, Florida, Megan Gehman (Matthew) of New Cumberland, and Sawyer McMullen of Dillsburg, and four great grandchildren, Liam, Alexandra, Addison, and Luke Montgomery, all of Hollidaysburg.
Jay was a member of Kappa Psi Pharmacy Fraternity, a lifetime member of Lancaster Masonic Lodge #43, F & A.M., a lifetime member of the Bellefonte Elks Lodge #1094, a past member of Twin Oaks Hunting Camp, and a past Board of Directors member for Peoples Bank, Bellefonte Branch.
There will be a public viewing held on Sunday, October 9, 2022, from 6 – 8 P.M, at Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc., 206 N. Spring Street, Bellefonte. An additional viewing will be held at the funeral home on Monday, October 10, 2022, from 10 – 11 A.M., with funeral services to begin at 11 A.M., with speaker Bill George officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Meyer Cemetery in Bellefonte.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jay’s memory to Faith United Methodist Church, 512 Hughes Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823.
Jay was a 1954 graduate of Lewistown High School. He attended Temple University School of Pharmacy, where he graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy in 1958. He began his career with Rea & Derick Drug Stores in Camp Hill, Lancaster, and Steelton as an assistant pharmacist and later as a pharmacy manager.
In 1965, Jay and Vivian purchased Parrish Drug Store in Bellefonte, which was established in 1891 by C.M. Parrish. Jay was assisted by his uncle, pharmacist William Swanger, until 1984 when Jay and Vivian’s son, David, graduated from Temple University School of Pharmacy and joined the family business.
Jay and Vivian’s children, grandchildren, and countless others from the community, most notably Carol Hockenberry, joined them in serving their customers in the mom-and-pop business.
Jay loved serving the many generations of families who made Parrish Drug Store their family drug store. Each person that came in had their own unique story to share with Jay and Vivian. Their stories became a part of Jay and Vivian’s own story. They truly loved being a part of their lives, whether through laughter or tears. The penny candy counter was Vivian’s passion and she loved bringing smiles to many generations of children. Jay suspected Vivian gave away more candy than she actually sold.
In October 2019, Jay and Vivian closed Parrish Drug Store after 54 years of serving the community, with Jay retiring as a pharmacist at the age of 83.
In addition to his wife, Vivian, he is survived by his sons, David Montgomery (Kimberly) of Pleasant Gap, and Matthew Montgomery of Bellefonte, and his daughter, Rhonda McMullen of Dillsburg; four grandchildren, Nicholas Montgomery (Valerie) of Hollidaysburg, Benjamin Montgomery of Lakeland, Florida, Megan Gehman (Matthew) of New Cumberland, and Sawyer McMullen of Dillsburg, and four great grandchildren, Liam, Alexandra, Addison, and Luke Montgomery, all of Hollidaysburg.
Jay was a member of Kappa Psi Pharmacy Fraternity, a lifetime member of Lancaster Masonic Lodge #43, F & A.M., a lifetime member of the Bellefonte Elks Lodge #1094, a past member of Twin Oaks Hunting Camp, and a past Board of Directors member for Peoples Bank, Bellefonte Branch.
There will be a public viewing held on Sunday, October 9, 2022, from 6 – 8 P.M, at Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc., 206 N. Spring Street, Bellefonte. An additional viewing will be held at the funeral home on Monday, October 10, 2022, from 10 – 11 A.M., with funeral services to begin at 11 A.M., with speaker Bill George officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Meyer Cemetery in Bellefonte.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jay’s memory to Faith United Methodist Church, 512 Hughes Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823.