Jay H. McCormick

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Jay Henry McCormick, 86, of Williamsport, took advantage of the extra day and “leaped” into the next dimension, dying Thursday, February 29, 2024 after a brief respite at The Gatehouse, thus narrowly avoiding passing during his favorite month, March.

Surviving are his sons, Michael J. McCormick, of Williamsport, Patrick Lee McCormick, of Newton, NJ, and his younger brother, Terry Lee McCormick and Sue (Donovan) McCormick of Russellville AR, and several nieces and nephews. 

Jay was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Sue (Bingaman) McCormick, in April 2021, to whom he was married 58 years, and his youngest brother, Wayne Edward McCormick, in January 2023.

Born on September 3, 1937 in Williamsport, Jay was the oldest son of the late George Henry McCormick and Elizabeth Jane (Werntz) McCormick.

Jay was a 1955 graduate of Lock Haven High School.  He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Lycoming College in 1960 and a Master of Science degree in education from Bucknell University in 1966.

Jay first worked for his father’s construction company, where one of his jobs included grading and seeding the property that became Four Mile Elementary School, where his wife would later teach.

Jay and Ann Sue’s first teaching positions were alongside each other, Jay teaching Junior High School, and Ann Sue elementary school, in the Hershey Area School District.  Jay later taught history at Curtain Junior High School in Williamsport.  In the 1970s Jay became President of McCormick Dray Line until its sale, at which point he worked various pursuits until retirement after having run his own small fleet of trucks for several years out of Montoursville.

A veteran, Jay was a private in the United States Army.  He served on the Boards at Jersey Shore State Bank/Penns Woods as well as both the local and state Boards of the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association. 

Jay was a member of the Williamsport Country Club, where he loved to play golf, and he enjoyed a family membership at the old Grampian Hills Pool Club.  He was also a member of the Williamsport Racquet Club and was competitive in the Williamsport Tennis League. 

Beyond work, Jay was driven by life, enjoying all the small things.  He was one to literally “stop and smell the roses.”  He awoke each morning alert to those everyday joys most overlook: like being impressed by a squirrel outsmarting his birdfeeder fortress, or hitting the Arby’s drive-thru for a Jamocha shake, or taking a half-hour to handcraft a salad.  Jay loved flowers and planted his backyard each year with annuals from his mother-in-law’s greenhouse, with the family’s loyal neighborhood-watch cat, Norman, alongside serving as supervisor. 

Always looking forward to planning the family cross-country excursion or yearly trips with the McCormick’s God family to Ocean City, Maryland, he found joy in the anticipation of things to come. 

He was also a favorite of his children’s friends, spending time on the phone when they called, and giving them all nicknames with his W.C. Fields-like delivery. “Heyyyy Marko, how ya’ doin’?”  Or, “Well if it isn’t old Dougie Deal!”  or, “Well well… Is this Fast Eddie?!” And naturally, if Jay greeted them all at once, he would exclaim, “Look! It’s a gaggle of geeks!”

In 1992, Jay, his youngest son and his two friends began a thirty-year tradition of traveling to March Madness, usually in North Carolina, as his unofficial denotation of spring.  Jay planned it all year – the hotel, creative measures of getting good seats, and scoping the local barbeque destinations.  He loved the tradition and could not wait for March.  It became his favorite month.  So after attending for years, when one of the friends dropped out because his firstborn was arriving, Jay quipped, “Old Haasy never did have his priorities straight.”  Jay’s goal was to make it again this year.  He will have to settle for the best seat in the house.

Family, friends, and local acquaintances throughout Lycoming County all described Jay similarly, as one of the kindest, funniest, most good-humored people they ever knew, and as one neighbor tagged him, an “icon” in the community for being a great, good man.  Whether at a club, the newsstand, or a bus station, he could make anyone laugh with the same silly joke.  The flower lady on the Golden Strip, the lettuce lady at the farmer’s market, or Dr. “Glunky,” all anticipated his routine visits, his quips, and his humor.  He enjoyed everyone he met, and they him.

Jay went on to earn his real estate license, and post-retirement, in his 70s, took courses to gain a license to ride a motorcycle.  If he was interested, he just did it.

But it was his beloved Lycoming College where he met the love of his life, Ann Sue, watching her sing in the choir and smoothly struck up a conversation by bumming a cigarette.  So it was Williamsport where they would plant their roots.

Jay and Ann Sue loved to exchange notes and cards with each other, dance at weddings, go on cruises, travel internationally with their friends, attend Lycoming College football games, and each night take turns scratching each other’s backs before falling asleep.

Later in life, Jay anticipated Wednesdays with his “poker buddies” and taking them for literal nickels, thrilled to come home with a take in the mid-six dollars.  After Ann Sue’s passing and not knowing the microwave from the toaster, Jay took residence at The Meadows on Warrensville Road because “the food is good.”  For two years, he was a friend, jokester and confidant to not just fellow residents, but also staff, all of whom counted him among their very favorites.

Jay didn’t want to leave this life and reversed a decision to go to hospice on February 14, opting for a Hail Mary with friends and family rooting him on and assisting him.  His last days saw a temporary upgrade, and many of his favorite things: butterscotch pudding, mashed potatoes, coffee cake, meatloaf, a last-second NCAA thriller, and a final request for comfort at The Gatehouse leading to a painless exit the following morning… on Leap Day, all with wonderful people at his side. 

Not bad.

A memorial service will be held at Lycoming College’s Trachte Music Center (East 4th St. & Basin St. Williamsport)  beginning Saturday, March 16 at 10:30 a.m., with visitation and remarks. Lunch and refreshments to follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Jay H. and Ann Sue Bingaman McCormick Scholarship Fund at Lycoming College, One College Place Williamsport, PA 17701.

Arrangements entrusted to Sanders Mortuary.

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