Jeffrey "Jay" Catron

Jeffrey “Jay” Catron, age 54, of Newark, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, June 16, 2025. Jay was born April 26, 1971 in Dayton, Ohio to Herbert JC Catron and Lillian Louise (Luckadoo) Catron.

Jay was a brilliant light, not only intelligent, but sensitive, and made an impact on this earth. He was brave, strong, and bold in every endeavor. While we here suffer because we will miss him, he is at peace now.

We’d like to share excerpts of notes from a few people that loved him deeply:

The family is appreciative of his “work families”, especially his Nationwide Children's family for knowing him so well and seeing all the great things in him. In celebrating Jay, we honor someone whose compassion, humor, and unshakeable purpose left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

Jay understood the impact and nature of the services his customers provided, and he resolved to bring skill and contagious levity to every interaction. Jay cared deeply about the people around him, especially in the thoughtful contributions he made to our systems. He often mentioned how he got an early start to the day because of an idea he thought of in his sleep. He made extra trips into the office to build relationships, brainstorm ideas, and connect with the people he supported. Jay never stopped pushing for a better world.

Jay was always ready to lend a helping hand to a colleague in need. Jay’s tender heart and kind soul were evident in his unwavering readiness to help anyone in need. His sense of humor was infectious, brightening the days of everyone around him and making even the toughest challenges seem manageable. He also had a deep passion for collecting antiques, finding joy in discovering unique pieces and the stories they held. Everyone who met Jay knew he was special. He was always the life of the party in meetings. Jay always had a story to tell, captivating everyone with his tales and making every moment memorable.

As we navigate this devastating loss, let us carry forward Jay’s passion, joy, and selflessness into everything we do.

Jay is survived by his husband, Joshua, their fur babies and turtle; parents, Lillian and Jay; sisters, Lori (Peter) and Jaime (Jason); brother, Adam and lastly brother, Justin who passed before he even got started; nieces, Chelsea, Emma, Abby, and Ava; nephew, Ethan Jay; uncle, James Luckadoo; aunt, Mary Collins; and a host of cousins.

Your bestie misses you and loves you.

Bugs I miss you. 

You are at peace now. No more sleepless days, aches, pains or worries.

I know at some point all of this will come full circle. 

We will reunite. You will be there on the Rainbow Bridge with the fur babies and family. 

Waiting impatiently for me.

As always. 

I LOVE YOU Taz