Jerre Bretz Smith

Jerre Bretz Smith, Sr., 73, of Lower Heidelberg Township, died October 4, 2014 in the Phoebe Berks Health Care Center..

He was married June 23, 1962 to Patricia Mae (Eckenroth) Smith, who died January 6, 2014.

Born October 1, 1941 in Community General Hospital, he was the only son of the late Howard A. and Olive Mae (Bretz) Smith.

Jerre was a 1959 graduate of Girard College, Philadelphia.

He was a member of Zion Evangelical Congregational Church, Mohnton.

Jerre was employed as a maintenance mechanic, specializing in the trades of plumbing, sheetmetal and welding. He worked at The Polymer Corporation; ACF Industries Inc.; DSM EPP NAD Inc. and Quadrant EPP USA, Inc., last working as a maintenance parts coordinator before retiring October, 1998.

He was a 32nd degree Mason with the Reading Lodge #549 F&AM, since 1975; a member of Neversink Forrest #32 Tall Cedars of Lebanon, since 1975 and a member of AASR, Scottish Right, Valley of Reading since 1976.

Jerre enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping with his family.

He also enjoyed vegetable gardening, cooking for the family and going out with The Polymer Retirees Breakfast Gang once a month.

Jerre is survived by two children: Jerre "Brett" Jr., husband of Teya B. (Smith) Smith of Sanford, North Carolina and Michelle Anne (Smith), wife of Richard A. Reaser of Lower Heidelberg Township.

He was also a loving grandfather to three grandchildren: Lauren Ann Smith, Brandon M. Reaser and Austin M. Reaser.

Services will be held Thursday, October 9th at 10:00 am in Kuhn-Stitzel Funeral Homes, Inc., 3300 Kutztown Road, Laureldale. A viewing will be held Thursday from 9:00 am until time of services. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Reading Lodge #549, Masonic Center, 300 South 7th Avenue, West Reading, PA 19611 or to Zion Evangelical Congregational Church, 57 North Church Street, Mohnton, PA 19560.

For online condolences, visit www.kuhnstitzelfuneralhomes.com