The Rev. James Ian “Rev” Maize, 38, of Beaver now serves his Lord and Savior in heaven as brain cancer ended his earthly life Thursday at Good Samaritan Hospice, Heritage Valley, Beaver.

Born Aug. 29, 1977, in Pittsburgh, he was a son to James E. Maize of Billings, Mont., and Carol L. Reece of Pittsburgh.

A 1995 graduate of Knoch High School, he went on to study logistics at Penn State University, where he also joined the U.S. Navy Reserve Officers' Training Corps. He was commissioned in 1999 and received his Naval Aviator Wings in 2001. He proudly served during Operation Iraqi Freedom and took part in rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

After his discharge in 2007, Ian worked at PLS Logistics in Cranberry, then went on to receive his Master's of Divinity from Trinity School for Ministry and was ultimately ordained and hired as pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Beaver.

Ian was an active member of the church, where he served as deacon, Sunday school teacher, small group Bible study leader, bell choir ringer and ultimately, pastor. He loved reading, word puzzles, home improvement projects and making people laugh. Ian was a devoted husband and father, friend to many and stranger to none. He was generous, kind and always positive, despite the many health challenges he faced. His infectious smile and sense of humor will be greatly missed.

In addition to his parents, Ian is survived by his wife of 17 years, Rachel Elizabeth Jones Maize of Beaver; his children, Audrey and Ezra, both at home; two brothers, Christopher M. Maize (Jennifer) of Billings, Mont., and Eric J. Maize (Kelly) of Ft. Collins, Colo.; his stepfather, Dale Reece of Pittsburgh; his grandparents, Edward and Irene Brungraber of Pittsburgh and Carolyn Ferguson of Mifflintown and Byrl Maize of East Waterford; and his in-laws, H. Mark and Ellen Jones of Hookstown.

MAIZE — Friends of the Rev. James Ian “Rev” Maize, who died Thursday, July 7, 2016, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Noll Funeral Home, 333 Third St., Beaver.A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, Beaver.A private interment with military honors will take place at the Beaver Cemetery, Beaver.Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Kesem, Carnegie Mellon Chapter, Ligonier Camp and Conference Center, Trinity School for Ministry, and Family House, Shadyside.For more information, visit www.nollfuneral.com.