Obituary of Jay Robert Armstrong

It is with immense sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Jay Robert Armstrong on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family after a brief but incredibly courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Jay is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Elizabeth (Liz) Armstrong (née Conkey); his adoring children James (Morgan) and Jessica Armstrong; and his beautiful grandchildren Bentley, Matilda, and Bruce. Jay is also survived by his mother Ruth Armstrong (née Gleason), his older sister Julie Armstrong (Dave Atfield), his younger brother Daniel Armstrong (Libby), his brother-in-law Norm Conkey (Jennifer Moore), as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and treasured friends, especially Al McKee and Abeshake (Abe) Sivalingam (Dusha). He is predeceased by his father John (Jack) Armstrong, his sister-in-law Karen Armstrong, and his parents-in-law Barb and Norm Conkey.

Jay was raised in Byron and always had a strong compass for automobiles, entrepreneurship, and especially fun. He was a lifelong Studebaker lover (just like his Dad!) and prided himself on his curated collection. Jay’s love for entrepreneurship and engineering started at a young age - his very first job being a paper-route around his own neighbourhood at age 8. He continued that work ethic at Fanshawe College, graduating from their Civil Engineering program in 1988. After graduating, Jay began working at the Warren Group which took him to companies like Towland’s (London) and Stratford’s Yundt Brothers - work experiences he always attributed to furthering his career. A most notable memory for him was being the project manager for part of the 401 reconstruction near London. The discipline and skills he learned at the Warren Group helped Jay and Liz to found and grow their own successful paving company, Armstrong Paving and Materials Group Ltd. A joy that Jay experienced for 21 years - proud to have employed and educated many employees over those years.

Jay and Liz settled near St. Marys in 1994, later welcoming their two children. Jay was always a strong believer in building community and supporting local. He was a lifetime member of the Optimist’s Club of Downie and spent many years coaching organized sports in the area. A great and memorable achievement for him was coaching James’ team of OMHA Champions in 2013. Jay dedicated years to furthering the game of Ringette across Southern Ontario. He was pleased to witness Jessica achieve Team Ontario status in 2014 and win an Eastern National Championship in 2014 and again in 2017. Most importantly, Jay was a kind and thoughtful man who was always willing to help others and support those close to him. A gentle reminder to never hesitate in telling your loved ones how important they are.

The Armstrong Family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Dr. Saini and the team at the Verspeeten Cancer Centre - ODU; Dr. Narayan and the staff on the Medicine and Chemo Units at the Stratford General Hospital; and especially Dr. Donaldson, Dr. Trevail, and the staff on the Inpatient Unit and Emergency Department and the St. Marys Memorial Hospital for their help in quick diagnosis and support during our journey.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Verspeeten Cancer Centre, the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation, or a charity of your choice. Jay and his family were able to spend valuable time together thanks to blood and platelet transfusions. Please consider donating blood if you are able or please consider joining the Canadian Stem Cell Registry.

A Celebration of Life is planned for June 20, 2026 from 1:00 to 4:00 at the home of Jay and Liz at 5207 Line 10, St. Marys. Light refreshments will be provided, all are welcome to attend to celebrate Jay’s memory.