Obituary - Jay L. Armitage

Jay L. Armitage, 78, Lewiston

Jay Leo Armitage of Lewiston died of causes related to age Saturday, Oct. 21, 2000, at the Idaho State Veteran's Last Page in Lewiston. He was 78.

He was born Dec. 16, 1921, in Southwick to Tom and Rachel Armitage and attended school in Southwick and Kendrick, graduating in 1940. He helped his dad with farming in Southwick and worked for the U.S. Forest Service planting trees.

Jay met and married Carol Schroeder in Fraser, Idaho, while working for Schmidts Brothers sawmill in 1942 on Feb. 14.

He was drafted into military service in July 1942 and served in the Army Air Forces in the Pacific Theater during the war. He was stationed in New Guinea and Australia. He was a nose gunner on a B-24 bomber and flew 308 combat hours. His crew had the distinction of flying the longest mission, 16 hours in flight, over enemy territory at that time. He gained the rank of staff sergeant and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal and the Good Conduct medal. He was discharged in 1945 at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Upon returning from war, he farmed with his father-in-law, Albert Schroeder, in Fraser for 15 years. He worked in the Greer stud mill before moving to Coeur d'Alene in 1960 and continued to work in stud mills, first with Coeur d'Alene Stud and later with Idaho Forest Industries. He was a planerman, sawyer, millwright and lumber grader.

Jay was always active in sports -- basketball and baseball -- while in school. While in the service, he played semi-pro baseball at Ft. George Wright in Spokane and other convalescent centers. While living in Fraser, he played on various town teams, including Schmidts Mill, Fraser, Orofino and Kamiah.

In retirement, he moved to Lewiston in 1991. He enjoyed reading and maintaining a beautiful yard.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years at the family Last Page and four children, twins Gerry Armitage of Fraser and Sherry Johnson of Lewiston, Kathleen McGuire of East Wenatchee and Michael Armitage of Coeur d'Alene; also numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

There will be no visitation. The memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Malcom's Brower-Wann Memorial Chapel in Lewiston.

Lewiston Tribune, Saturday, October 22, 2000
Transcribed by Kerry Kasza