God called Jay Walter Ernst home on December 29, 2025.

He was born on April 14,1943 in Lancaster, Pa. His proud parents were Ralph and Mary Jane Ernst of East Petersburg, Pa. His brother Carl and wife Carol live in Lancaster. Jay graduated from Hempfield High School in Landisville, Pa., and after that joined the Marine Corps. And as the saying goes “once a Marine, always a Marine.” He has always carried that banner with pride!

Then in 1977 God decided Jay and I had to meet, quite by accident, I might add. We were total opposites but … why not?! We were married June 24, 1978, at Oregon Hill, Pa., in a wonderful outdoor ceremony. My name is Kitty Lynne and along with me came two sons, David James Guy who is blessed with Jeanette as his wife. They live in Harrisburg, Pa. And also, Jay Robert Guy, who along with his wife Caroline and daughters Ansley Sophia and Sutherlyn Sinclair, live close to us here in Concord, N.C.

Ansley and Sutherlyn are God’s gifts to us and had “Poppy” wrapped right around their fingers. He loved them so much and did all he could for them as they grew. Of course, his love didn’t stop with them but …. We all know how granddaughters are very special.

Jay grew up in a family of plumbers, W.M. Ernst and Sons of East Petersburg, Pa. He later held Master Plumber licenses in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland and ran the Mechanical Division of the Farfield Company in Rothsville, Pa. They were commercial and did much of Penn State University and hospitals, prisons and many jobs at DuPont and Hershey, along with many others.

We moved here to Concord on retirement to spend time with our son Jay and his family. We both became members of Concordia Lutheran Church in China Grove. God is our “heart and balance” in our lives. We have been truly blessed with Concordia.

But now God is calling Jay home and I’m not quite sure of how to let go of 47 years of marriage, love and life with him. We knew love and were blessed in many ways.

Jay served God, church, his country, our family and others. He ran the good race and I’m proud of him for that.

“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever…”

I love you, honey, it was a great ride!

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at Concordia Lutheran Church Family Life Center, China Grove, with Pastor Carlin Ours officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Welcome Home Veterans, 165 N. Main St., Mooresville, NC 28115 or Concordia Lutheran Church, 185 Concordia Church Road, China Grove, NC 28023.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the family of Mr. Ernst. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.