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This website is dedicated to the memory of Jay Ketchem - 1964-2022.
It was created for his friends and family to share how his many talents,
skills and kind heart touched our lives.

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Jay Ketchem

1964 - 2022

Jay Ketchem - was born on October 23rd, 1964 to Jerry and Ruby Ketchem. Jay had an amazing life journey. From birth he immediately gravitated towards music influenced by his mother's beautiful voice.
He started playing drums and singing at an early age and later, switched to guitar so he could write his own music. He joined the Marine's right out of High School (Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland) and traveled the world while on duty.
  After leaving the Marines, Jay moved to Hawaii and did a brief stint modeling for Cinch Jeans and working at Chippendale's. He then moved to Nashville to kick start his career in music and worked with many famous music producers. He took a gamble and moved to Vegas. He was soon performing 6 nights a week for three years in the "Country Fever Show" at the infamous "Golden Nugget.
  He met his wife Cheryl, married and moved to Grand Junction, Colorado. They built their custom dream home, and raised two beautiful children - Madison and Cole. They were the pride of his life.
 

 

Jay Ketchem

- Born October 23rd, 1964

- Father, musician, singer, songwriter, surfer, skater, builder of custom homes, golfer and ex-marine.

- Sadly left us on June, 11th, 2022.

And we will add it to this site

We cope with loss in different ways. This was sent to me by a mutual high school friend of Jay and I. It helped me immensely in dealing with the grief I am experiencing with Jay's passing. I hope this brings you as much comfort as it does for me. Derek Wille

Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let me name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without any effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well.

© 2022 Sand Dog Music

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