Jay Mollenkamp

Life is too short to be ordinary. From the day he was born in Lyons, Kansas, on August 5, 1979, it was clear Jay Mollenkamp was extraordinary. Anyone who ever met Jay knew he was blessed with exceptional passion, intelligence, and humanity. As a child, Jay cried louder, played harder, and loved more fully than others his age. In school, he tested into a gifted program and was so advanced that traditional education bored him. As he grew, Jay’s passion translated into a love for words; he crafted award-winning poetry that affected all who heard it. Jay spent his adult years seeking academic knowledge and spiritual insight. Above all else, however, Jay devoted his life to his daughter, Hope. He loved her unconditionally and bragged that she was his greatest achievement. In a perfect tribute to Jay’s life, anyone who meets Hope recognizes she is spirited, smart, and loving—just like her daddy. Jay’s soul was set free on July 4, 2010, in St. Louis, Missouri. He is survived by his daughters, Hope Indigo Mollenkamp, who lived with him, and Rayna Grace Barto, who lives with her parents in North Carolina; mother Beth Mollenkamp; father Lew Mollenkamp; sister Becky Mollenkamp; brother-in-law Scott Thebeau; and an abundance of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Orval and Gertrude Burchett, and Alfred and Evelyn Mollenkamp; and cousin Michael Mosher. Memorials may be made to an Educational Fund for Hope Mollenkamp, checks may be made to Becky Mollencamp in care of Baue Funeral Home. Directions to Tremayne Shelter once inside the park: http://www.co.st-louis.mo.us/parks/parkmaps/crevecoeur.pdf Directions to park: See view map link below for directions to Creve Coeur Park