Jay L. Pence, 70, of Columbia City, died peacefully at 5:43 p.m. Friday, November 19, 2021, at Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Wayne.

Born May 5, 1951 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he was a son of the late Oscar Leigh & Jean Cornelius (Herrman) Pence.  Jay graduated from Columbia City Joint High School.

On May 5, 1973 he married Doris Jean Hill.  They have always made their home in Whitley County.

Jay was the owner operator of Pence Dozing and excavating since 1970.

He was a life-long farmer and coon hunter.  He enjoyed Brown Swiss dairy farming and John Deere tractors.  He was also a fan of John Wayne movies, German shepherd dogs and coon hounds.

He was a nine-year member of the 4-H, and a four-year member of the FFA.  He was also a Shriner for 40 years.

He is survived by his wife, Doris; daughters, Jenny C. Pence of Columbia City, Sarah J. (Kip Trier) Pence of Burket, Leah J. (Charles "Buck" Kilgore) Pence; son, Jason L. Pence both of Columbia City; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren; sister, Marty (Dale) Scott and his German shepherd, Luke.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; Hershel and Mildred and Bert and Grace Herrman.

The funeral service is 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home. Burial is at Thorn Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home, with a Larwill Due Guard Lodge # 278 service at 8 p.m.

Memorials in Jay's honor are to the Masonic Lodge or Shriners.