William George Brey

William (Bill) Brey, age 92, passed away peacefully on the morning of Monday, April 27.

Bill was a hardworking farmer and active community member of Bethel and Kenoza Lake. Bill was the eldest of three brothers–his middle brother Roger was a partner of Brey’s Egg Farm with Bill until the 1980s. Bill was preceded in death by both Roger and their youngest brother Warren. Bill was also sadly predeceased by his wife, Elvira, whom he married in 1955 and shared his life with until her passing in 2019. They met as teenagers at a Bethel Youth Program.

He is survived by his four children and their spouses, Kathleen, Denise, Daniel (Nancy), and Kevin (Joy), as well as six granddaughters and three great-grandsons. Bill was born on July 22, 1933 to Harold and Elsie (Moulthrop) Brey in Kenoza Lake.

That same year, Bill’s father, Harold purchased the land to start his farm, which would grow, with the help of his sons, into Brey’s Egg Farm. Bill’s first memory of working on the farm was carrying firewood into the house after school. Bill graduated from Jeffersonville Central School, class of 1951 and at the time was already an established egg farmer. He continued supporting his family by working on the farm until he retired at the age of 65. It wasn’t long after his retirement that he was found back in the egg room, chatting with the staff, delivering eggs, repairing pallets for the egg cases, and cracking jokes! Bill was a charismatic man, his face always fitted with a mischievous smile and an easy-going chuckle at the ready for anyone he met. He could often be found reading non-fiction, watching the lunchtime ticker tape, or out in nature taking long walks, riding his bike, or fishing. Bill was an avid and successful gardener, supplying cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, zucchini, and much more to both his extended family and lucky neighbors. Bill was deeply committed to his community; he locally served on the Bethel Planning Board and was elected to the Bethel Town Council for many terms. While campaigning, he billed himself as “a republican, conservative, and democrat”. He volunteered his time with numerous organizations: Kenoza Lake Fire Department, Farm Bureau, Cooperative Extension, Bethel Lions Club, and Elks Lodge. He was on the Board of Directors for Kenoza Lake Methodist Church, Inter County Feeds, and Agway. For many years, Bill took pride in planting and maintaining the flowers at the Kenoza Lake Veteran’s Flag Pole and in front of the Kenoza Lake Fire Department. He delighted in spending his later years with his wife, Elvira, traveling the world to places such as Hawaii, Amsterdam, and Rome. He enjoyed spending many winters relaxing on the beach in St. Martin, and then later as a snowbird in Naples, Florida. Elvira once described Bill’s personality with the explanation that he had become the mayor of the beach in St. Martin. He would sit all day reading while friends would stop by for a chat, drawn to his jovial and youthful way. A man of strict routine, he was dependable in his consistency and took pride in everything he did, whether it was growing corn, grilling chicken, or rowing a boat. His love of chocolate was unmatched, as was his infectious giggle when he inevitably started trouble. He kept this childlike wonder and heart until the very end.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Kenoza Lake Methodist Church, PO Box 117 Kenoza Lake, NY 12750.

A celebration of life will be held at Carrland Lodge, 210 Radcliff Road Ferndale, NY on Saturday May 2nd, with visitation beginning at 2pm, followed by a service at 2:30pm. We welcome you to come share your memories of Bill. A private interment will take place at the Kenoza Lake Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home, West St. at Buckley, Liberty, NY 845-292-0001 or 845-439-5200 or www.Harris-FH.com