Derek Jacob Ray was born August 22, 1977 in Des Moines, Iowa, later moving to Coralville, Iowa, Nashville, Tennessee and finally when he was about 6 years old to Dallas/Fort Worth. He attended grade school in Garland and Carrollton, Texas - completing his education at Newman Smith High School. After High School Derek held various jobs in Dallas/Fort Worth, Tacoma Washington and eventually settled in the Denton area.

He was an avid sports fan - of the Minnesota Vikings, the Dallas Cowboys and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Of all the jobs he held he probably most loved his time as a Veterinary Technician at a clinic in Argyle. Derek spent considerable time with two Christian ministries - The Denton Freedom House and the Trinity Foundation in Dallas. He was an extremely talented artist, a handsome and charming young man with a wickedly funny sense of humor.

He is survived by his daughter, Kendall; mother, Eleen; father, Richard; stepmother, Catherine; sister, Kristina; and brothers Nick and Berhanu.

A memorial service will be held at 5:00 PM, Saturday, May 1, 2021 at the Zera Coffee Event Room, 420 East McKinney St, Denton.

Flowers are welcome or in lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Denton Freedom House.