The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-12-11
A GOOD MAN GONE
TO HIS REWARD

The many friends of Rev. J. B. Ley,
pastor for four years of the Ocala
Methodist church, and since 1913
serving the church in Orlando, will
sincerely mourn his death, which oc-
Cured in Orlando yesterday.
The Orlando Reporter-Star says of
Mr.. Ley:
Rev. J. B. Ley: Born September
%, 1855. Died, December 10th, 1917.
This is very brief statement but
between the years and between the
lines much remains to be told.
Rev. John B. Ley was born in
Townsville, Ca, and at very tender
age was brought to Florida, his par
ents locating at Micanopy.
His father, Rev. John c. Ley and
mother, Mrs. Martha Pottle Ley were
pioneer Methodists and to their unit
ed and faithful efforts, amid many
hardships of pioneer life Methodism
was planted in many places in tbs
state.
John, the son, was educated at
West Point and at Vanderbilt Univer-
sity, receiving a liberal education
which stood him in good stead all
through his life, especially in /. his
chosen profession, the ministry of the
gospel.
He was married to Miss Mary Es-
tell Roux in January, 1880. His first
church given him after being ordain-
ed was the Volusia Mission, and his
life work ever since was given with
out reserve to many of the hardest,
and following that to many of the
finest churches in the state, among
them Tallahassee, Tampa, Lakeland,
Ocala, Jacksonville and Orlando.
His three years service in Orlando
were among his best and the last
year proved browning effort.
He was hard worker, a fine
preacher, cody man, ray of SUM-
light, cordial pastor and a firm
friend. Everybody loved him and the
visitors to our city were with one ac-
cord great admirers of him and his
sermons. His home life was the most
sacred and consistent thing about
him. Never an impatient mood or
cross word, always ready to meet his
children on an equal footing and, nc
matter how pressing his other duties,
patiently explaining every difficult
problem.
He rounded out the three years of
his work in Orlando, coming to the
church at time when the new edi-
flee had just been built, with load
of debt upon it and each year of his
pastorate he had large addition to
the membership and was instrumental
in meeting every obligation.
During the past year all obligations
were met and twenty thousand dollars
of debt upon the church was paid and
Brother Ley had one of the finest re-
ports of his life to read to the an
nual conference which met at Miami.
He had planned to go to confer
ence with the presiding elder and his
sin-in-law, Mr.. T. F. Alexander of
Tampa, in his automobile, but Sunday
a week ago was taken i'll and though
| it was thought he would soon recover
he grew worse, suffering greatly dur
ing the following dcys.
Wednesday he felt so much better
that he was about his room, but soon
had relapse and Saturday it became
necessary to operate. At first it was
thought he might rally, but the burst
ing of an abscess speedily terminated
his useful life, for at two in the morn
ing of Monday he slept away into the
other life of which it was his dearest
pleasure to tell to mortals below.
He is survived by his wife, his
daughters, Mrs. T. F. Alexander of
Tampa, Mrs. Frank Smith of Orlan-
do, Mrs. L. A. Bell of Cairo, Ga, Miss
Ruth of this city, and his son, J. C.
Ley of Tampa
The funeral will take place tomor-
row at 8 p. m. in the Methodist
church. The pallbearers will be chos-
en- from among the board of stewards.
Rev. B. K. Thrower of Tampa, who is
now in Miami attending conference,
will preside.