The Mirror Newspapers Reflecting Life Along The Maumee River
BY MIKE McCARTHY | MIRROR EDITOR — A Maumee man who died at the young age of 50 will be remembered for decades to come following the planting of a memorial tree in his honor on the grounds of the Wolcott House Museum Complex in Maumee.
Jay Deibler lost a three-year battle against cancer earlier this month and his employers at Walmart thought enough of Jay to honor his memory with the planting of an 18-foot Norway spruce, which they purchased for $400 and donated in Jay’s honor.
Jay worked as a regional manager of facility services at Walmart until his death on April 6.
Maumee city service workers planted the tree on Monday morning in a cold, light drizzle as Jay’s wife, Lori, looked on. Offering support were Lori’s brother Scott Walsh and his wife Denise, as well as family friend Sonia Cooper and Jay’s boss at Walmart, Bill Bee.
Maumee Mayor Richard Carr, city administrator Patrick Burtch and city council president Jim MacDonald were also on hand to witness the tree planting.
