Dr. C. Jack Bryer

C. John "Jack" Bryer passed away on Sunday, July 5, 2026 in West Chester, PA. Jack wrote this obituary in his hundredth year. Born in 1925 to C.J. Bryer and Cora Bowers Bryer, he spent the next ninety-five years in Gap. He lived most recently at Merrill Gardens in West Chester. He married Kathleen Baugher in 1948, having met her at Elizabethtown College. She predeceased him in 1992. His only sibling, Muriel Creps, preceded him in death. He is survived by his five children: Kathleen (David) Craven; Jeffrey (Pamela) Bryer; Suzanne (Stuart) Levy; John (Denise) Bryer; and Joseph (Barbara) Bryer. He had 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. No one ever had descendants who were more dearly loved. Jack graduated from Paradise High School in 1942. His Penn State education was interrupted by World War II. He served in the US Army Air Corps in Italy in a medical aid station. Following his service, he graduated from Penn State. He then completed his education at University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, he joined his father in his veterinary practice and later formed Gap Veterinary Associates. The practice, now 100 years old, and primarily serving dairy farmers, was the largest large animal veterinary practice on the East Coast for many years. Jack was an active member of the Lancaster Church of the Brethren for more than 70 years. In addition, he served his community as a long-standing member of the Pequea Valley School Board, was a Director of the local branch of Fulton Bank, served on the Board of Bridge of Hope, and helped to establish the Pequea Valley Library. He had many interests, notably gardening, where he practiced no-till gardening and most years grew a vegetable new to him. His azaleas and rhododendrons were beautiful and brought much joy to him and to his friends and neighbors. He loved to travel, visiting all 50 states, many National Parks and 19 foreign countries. All lives are short and our most precious gift we can make is to give our lives away. 

Lancaster Church of the Brethren and their staff will be hosting a celebration of Jack’s life at the church, 1601 Sunset Ave, Lancaster, on Wednesday, July 15th at 10 a.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Jack’s memory to Lancaster Church of the Brethren, 1601 Sunset Ave, Lancaster, PA 17601.