Jennifer (Jen) Mekrut Ray, 54, passed away unexpectedly on February 19, 2025 at home in Middlebury, Vermont. She was born on January 25, 1971 in Tampa, Florida, to Fred Frank Mekrut and Katherine Walsh Mekrut.

Jen was extremely active in the Middlebury community from coaching multiple sports teams, to tutoring and mentoring at Ms. Ray's Reading Room and Learning Center.

She built life changing connections and was a second mom to so many in the community. Jen touched the lives of so many young athletes as a coach for several basketball teams from boys and girls middle school teams to her AAU team named "The Stingrays" as well as Middlebury Soccer.

Outside of coaching, Jen served as an educator at her Ms. Ray's Reading Room and Learning Center where she tutored students from elementary to high school. Through this, Jen left a tremendous impact on struggling students and her work went beyond the traditional classroom learning as she was also a mentor and life-coach to her students. Jen also spent her time in Middlebury as a volunteer at the Middlebury Teen Center.

While Jen loved to give back to her community, her real passion was being a devoted mother and wife to her family. She gave her all to her family, from baking one of her cookie recipes, driving her kids around to all of their extracurricular activities, or planning beach vacations, she was a do-it-all mother and wife. Jen was so proud of both her children and husband. Not a day went by where she was not celebrating the accomplishments of her children and husband. Nothing made her prouder than seeing Finn score a basket, Fallon compete on the dance team, or Jesse take care of the family.

Her love for family went beyond her immediate family. Whenever there was a large family get together or holiday, Jen would always be coordinating menus and activities, making the events run seamlessly. Above all else, Jen had the greatest personality and would light up a room whenever she walked in. No one could ever say Jen was merely a bystander in any room! Jen almost always sacrificed her own time to care for others but when she did find free time, she loved to cook and bake, read Elin Hilderbrand novels, and sit on the beach with her toes in the sand, and spend time with her beloved family.

Jen leaves behind many loved ones including her husband, Jesse Ray; two children, Fallon and Finn Ray; stepchildren, Cadyn and Jonah Ray; dog, Thor; and cat, Bella. Jen leaves behind her sister, Christina and husband, Michael Barrows; brother Patrick, and wife, Patricia (Patty) Mekrut; and sister, Sara and husband Andre Etienne. Jen had many loving nieces, nephews, and their spouses, including Katherine (Katy) Kleindienst, Matthew Kleindienst and their two children, Olivia and Teddy; Andre Etien and Erin Young; Jake and Emmagrace Etienne; and Jesse Etienne.

The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life in honor of Jen on Wednesday, February 26 at 3-6pm at the home of Pat and Patty Mekrut, 30 Cove Wharf Lane, Higganum, CT 06441. We look forward to celebrating her tremendous life with her favorite people and desserts. Another celebration for Jen will occur in the spring at a later determined date near Middlebury, Vermont.