Jay Langford

Jay Langford, 91, of Sheffield died Saturday, January 17, 2015 at his home.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 23 ^rd at First United Church of Christ, Sheffield.  Rev. Jane Courtright will officiate.  Burial will be in Sheffield Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the church.  The family request that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Laurel L. Zernitz Memorial Scholarship Fund % Gregory Langford, 15122 Rollinmead Drive, Darnestown, MD 20878, or the Sheffield United Church of Christ.  Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Services, Sheffield is assisting the family with arrangements.

I. Jay Langford was born March 1, 1923 in Walnut, IL the son of Elmer “Bobby” and Amelia (Schrader) Langford.  He graduated from Walnut High School in 1940 and the Drake University School of Pharmacy in 1944.  He was united in marriage to Louise Jordan on December 24, 1944 in Newport, RI.  She died on March 31, 2000.  Jay served in the U. S. Navy during WW II as a Lieutenant, JG Navigator on the USS Tranquility.  Jay began his career as a pharmacist in Terra Haute, IN where his three children were born.  In 1952 the family moved to Sheffield where Jay acquired the Scholl’s Drug Store and established Langford’s Pharmacy which he owned and operated for over 40 years.  Jay also had a passion for farming and he owned and operated a farm east of the Village of Sheffield since 1969.

Jay was active in the Sheffield United Church of Christ.  He was also active in the Sheffield community, as a member of Sheffield Lions Club, Sheffield Homecoming Association, served on the Western Community School Board, Library Board, sponsor of Sheffield Community Center and Performing arts facilities at Bureau Valley High School, as well as the pharmacy facilities at Drake University among others.  Jay enjoyed refinishing antique furniture, gardening and traveling.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Jeffry and Renee Langford, Washburn, WI and Gregory and Janet Langford, Darnestown, MD; a son-in-law, Albert Zernitz, , Rio Verde, AZ; grandchildren, Tonya (Thatcher) Moyle, Megan (J.J.) Ossola, Allison (Corey) Nyara, Jay Zernitz and Gregory Zernitz;  and great grandchildren, Una, Adeline, Octavia, Irvin, Wyatt and Della.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a daughter, Laurel Zernitz, sisters, Inez Norden and Rita Ann Hopkins and a brother Claude Langford.

The family would especially like to thank Deb Younggren for all her help and care for Jay over the years.

Condolences may be expressed by visiting Jay’s obituary at www.stackhousemoore.com .