Submitted by: Dan Rich
May 28, 1919 - Dec. 31, 1997
James ''Jay'' Murphy Gearhart, 78, died following an illness at 1 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 31, in St. Joseph Medical Center, South Bend, Ind.
James was the son of Raymond and Lucille (Klein) Gearhart. He was born in Mishawaka, Ind., on May 28, 1919. He graduated in the first graduating class at St. Matthews Grade School in 1933, and then from Riley High School in 1937. He entered the Army in April of 1941, and served 4 1/2 years through World War II, three of those years in Panama with the Military Police in Guatemala.
On July 21, 1945, he married MaryAnne Tansey, and was discharged from the Army in Oct. 1945.
He is survived by his wife, MaryAnne; four children, Daniel of Granger, Ind., Jean Givler of Osceola, Ind., Rita Gearhart of Elkhart, Ind., and Rosemary Grimes of Edgewood, Ky.; six grandchildren, Kathleen Givler McCormack, Kristine Givler Hammes, Adam and Noah Grimes, Andrew and Daniel Gearhart; three great-grandchildren; and by a brother, Theodore, of South Bend.
James was a Studebaker employee for 10 years. He spent the last 30 years working in maintenance for the Holy Cross Community, at St. Joseph's Church and School, South Bend for 25 years and six years for the Sisters at Our Lady's Convent, formerly at Erskine Manor. He spent his last working year, at age 74, at St. Anthony's School.
He was active in local Bowling Circle for 50 years and was a pitcher with local softball teams until age 42 with many different teams, including many years with the South Bend Tribune in the 50's and early 60's.
He has given his family a loving example of an honest life of hard work, unending love, and most important, a kindness toward his fellow man.
Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today in the McGann Funeral Home, Council Oak Gardens Chapel, 21275 W. Cleveland Road, near Portage Road, South Bend, where a wake service will be at 7 p.m.
Services will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Church of Lorretto-St. Mary's College. Burial at Highland Cemetery will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Homeless Center or to Sisters of Holy Cross Mission to the Poor.