James A. Ayres

Berlin – James A. “Jay” Ayres, 41, of Route 22, Berlin, NY, died suddenly at his residence on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.
Born April 23, 1969, in Newton, NJ, he was the son of the late William Ayres and Patricia Sinclair Ayres-Fackler and her husband Frank of Staplesville, NC. He was the husband of the former Patricia T. “Tish” Kaplafka, whom he married on August 7, 1994, in New Jersey.
Jay attended Sussex County Vo-Tech in New Jersey and was last employed by R.J. Valente in Cropseyville, NY, as a machine operator. He enjoyed horseshoes and NASCAR.
Besides his wife, mother and step-father, Jay is survived by his children, Janel D., Deanna J. and Jay W. Ayres all of Berlin, his maternal grandmother, Bertha M. Sinclair of Dover, NJ, his siblings, Debbie and husband John Healy Jr. of Petersburgh, NY, William and wife Janine Ayres of Andover, NJ, Kathy and husband Bob Caton of Newton, NJ, Sandra and husband Carmine Polizzo of Newton and Susan Hagan of Ogdensburg, NJ, his mother-in-law, Virginia A. Kaplafka of Newton, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Private visitation was held in the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home in Stephentown, NY, on Thursday. Cremation followed in the Mt. Anthony Crematorium in Bennington, VT. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date in New Jersey. Arrangements are under the direction of the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home of Petersburgh.