Jay Meraz Obituary

Jay, I should have told you how much you meant to me and how much I cared about you while you were still here. It´s a regret and a heaviness I will carry with me always.
Thank you for letting me in and being able to see/know the real you. The you not everyone gets to see. I will you miss your little smirk and getting the most random texts. I told you once a few years back that you had to be careful if something happened to you I´d never be the same. Still true. To your family, know that Jay was a good man. I hope you find comfort knowing that

Jay was my first friend, freshmen year at CHS. As high school went on we grew distant. But each time we passed each other in the hallways he would always give me his signature smile. Rest in Heaven brother, you were such a nice human being!

He taught me how to drive. We would blast music in his car and sing together miss you so much

It´s crazy to think that you´re no longer here with us. I am still expecting you to walk into work and say "Sup". I really do think it´s true that many people failed to appreciate and value you and when you´re gone it´s when people realize their mistake of doing so. I always told you that you were a great supervisor and I looked up to you. It was truly an honor when I heard you gave me a compliment on my work ethic here and there even if I heard it through somebody else. Therefore I will continue to implement the same principles at work and in my life. I will miss our bickering, you were truly that older brother figure I never had. You were seriously a biggo teddy bear with a soft heart for the kids, the vulnerable and anyone who was being faced with injustice. You were fair and firm. Yes you had your way of saying things a bit bluntly, but that was the truth and you did not need to sugar coat it. Some people may have struggled to take accountability for stuff you said, but I also knew that later you also tried to be more mindful of how you said things. Jay overall you deserved more. I seen how much you loved and cared for the kids. More than many of other people there. You advocated for them on many instances, you would get worried everything a kid would run away from Jamison worrying whether this would be the last time we see them. You would talk to a kid in crisis with love and consideration, you would engage with the kids and play with them, I´d see you hand over gifts to kids when they would get released, and see you crack a smile when the kids would be overjoyed. Some people may have never seen this side of you and it was because you hid it well. Honestly too well that for some people it´s like describing a unicorn sighting, however some people don´t see beneath the layers of someone. It was always there. On my first day on the job you were the only and first person I saw playing with the kids, you´re the one the unknowingly encouraged me to play with the kids as well since no else was doing it then. You´re the one that remembered the kids birthdays and would pick out gifts and items you noticed that specific child liked. You kept wrapping paper and stickers in your office and you wrapped the gifts for them a day before. You also once surprised me with a box of stickers that you kept for when kids lost their teeth. You would put a $2 dollar bill in a small envelope and decorate it with stickers to put underneath a kids pillow. You always made sure things that were needed for the facility were stocked up. You saw potential in many staff and advocated for them to others. You had a heart for animals too, I seen you feed and almost take home a stray dog you even took good care of the fishes at Jamison making sure they were always fed, cleaned and healthy. I remember when our big bristle nose pleco was sick and had not pooped for days you researched how to make him healthy again and did just that. Overall Jay it was truly an honor to have crossed paths with you, I truly wish I could have reached out on your last few days to see how you were. It´s a guilt I will forever hold. You´d check up on me and my kid on certain occasions when I would miss work. I will always appreciate that. You forever deserve employee of the month, in my eyes you were the best supervisor Jamison children´s center had. I hope you´re able to see now that you were loved and appreciated by many. I will miss you. My condolences to all his family.

Too young to be gone already. Rest in paradise. Biggest condolences to all your loved ones. Sorry for your loss Teddy

Jay stayed with me and the castillos for a bit and we decided to have a get together with some friends while the parents (castillo parents) were away. We got in trouble of course and we were punished with chores. He did put on the tough guy persona but had the biggest heart. Although we didn't stay in tough in his latest days he will always be remembered.

Jay will be missed very much; I hope he is in a better place right now. He was a great and helpful Supervisor here at Jamison, He always gave me pointers and I loved that about him. He also knew when I was having a bad day because he would ask me, "Is something wrong? " And I responded, "No why?" He said, "Because you're always upbeat and happy." I giggled a little because I didn't think he'd notice. Made me happy he cared because I wasn't myself that day. He had a big heart and cared for the residents here at Jamison and staff members. He was great guy and will deeply be missed. Condolences to his family. <3

Jay was a great guy to work with and to be around. He would help me out whenever I needed it. Jay will be truly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, and fellow coworkers during this difficult time.

I worked with Jay at Jamison´s Children´s Center. As a supervisor he was as solid as they come. One of my favorites. He was great at his job and was always there for the kiddos and his crew. A memory I have is of him sewing up a hole from a kiddos sweater and me making comments like "what can´t you do!" And he slightly smiled and said "you can´t sew?". The kiddo went to him and thanked him and Jay acted like it wasn´t a big deal. But we were all impressed. He would make me laugh with his side-eye and taught me valuable lessons with work. His presence was greatly respected and appreciated especially in adverse situations, Jay always stayed level-headed and handled it. Our center is not the same without him. I send my deepest condolences to his family.

To a remarkable Human Being to One of the Best Supervisors that I have had, to His Sarcasms and moments of learning, To the person that everyone called for, to the Man that was NOT VALUED ENOUGH, To Jaysito the One that had no Filter when it came to everything, Thank You for showing so much Love and Compassion toward the kids. Jamison Will NEVER be the Same without, until we meet again Friend.

I used to work with Jay at The Jamison Center. Real hopeful and stand up guy. My condolences to his family

You will be missed Jay. Our hearts still are in disbelief. Thank you for always being kind, supportive and a good friend to us ladies in the kitchen.
RIP our dear friend. You will always be in our hearts

Jay my friend/aka my little brother you will truly be missed. You had a heart of gold, and I will always cherish our memories and outings at work. To Jay's family you all are in my thoughts and prayers. Asking God to give you all comfort, strength, peace, and understanding.