Jay Christian Heintz was born on November 1, 1979.  He unexpectedly passed away on December 26, 2024.

From the start, Jay was a unique soul.  Jay had a very creative and artistic side, and he created beautiful pictures, cards and writings.  He also collected comic books and vintage toys.  Jay was a voracious reader and had an eclectic collection of literature in his home office.  He also loved looking at the stars through his telescopes and he taught his family about the wonders of space. Most of all, he loved people, especially his wife, Ashley, and his daughter, Jade.  Jay had a gigantic heart for others, and he had an innate ability to relate to people in a caring and sensitive way.  He had the biggest smile, gave the best hugs and he was always ready and willing to provide a joke to lighten the mood.  Working as a manager at various food establishments enabled Jay to put his social skills to use.  Most recently, he was the manager at Papa Murphy's in Fort Morgan.  The owners regularly heard how helpful and kind Jay was, mentioning that he often would walk orders out to people who struggled coming into the store.  He knew his regular customers by name and what their favorite pizzas were.  Jay was a genuine conversationalist, and he had a talent for connecting with people. He took pride in his work, and this showed each day as he took great care in managing the shop.

Jay may have looked tough, but he was a soft-hearted man especially for his daughter.  Jade was his pride and joy. She has inherited his dark physical attributes and his inquisitive nature.  Spend any time with Jay and no doubt you would have heard him brag about his daughter and what a special, intelligent woman she is.

Jay will be especially missed by his family.  He could light up a room with his vivacious laugh and his loud, often rambunctious, energy.  His brother and sister always knew he was the baby of the family and joked that their mom put Jay on another level.  But, they cut him some slack because, being much younger, he spent a lot of his childhood being dragged to baseball fields, soccer fields or gymnasiums watching them compete in various sports.

Jay is survived by his daughter, Patricia Jade Jones; his father, Edward Heintz (Valerie), his sister, Holley Norris (Boone) and his brother, Brett Heintz; his nephews, Jake and Nick Norris and Braden Heintz as well as his nieces, Bella Norris and Autumn Heintz already miss their uncle's clever banter.  He is also survived by aunts, uncles and cousins in California and Oklahoma who had a special place in Jay's heart.

Jay is preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Heintz and his sister-in-law, Heather Heintz.  Additionally, his maternal and paternal grandparents preceded him in death.

A memorial service is planned for 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Life Fellowship (across from Morgan Community College), 17723 County Road 20 in Fort Morgan. A reception will follow.  All are welcome.