Kenneth "Jay" Earl Hampton, Jr.

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Kenneth Earl (Jay) Hampton on November 15, 2025, after he fought a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Born on July 17, 1952, Jay was known for his warm and disarming wit, and he had a charming and matter-of-fact worldview that was unparalleled.

Jay spent his childhood with his parents and two loving sisters in their little home bordering the South End of Louisville; a loving home that would become the gathering hub for two generations of grandchildren and greats for decades of love and life. As an adult, he spent many years working as a self-employed carpenter. He spent his retirement with his loving wife Letty near to the home he grew up in. Jay lived a relatively simple life, but he had a big personality with a hearty laugh that warmed the hearts of those he loved most. 

Jay enjoyed sports of all kinds. He would watch any sport from football to tennis and golf, or even bare fisted boxing. He was a devoted lifelong fan of the UK Basketball team, and the start of a new season of each year was always a time of excitement and new hope for the upcoming season. Jay was a music lover; he liked to listen to a wide range of music from The Beatles and Steely Dan to Eric Clapton and The Talking Heads among many others, and he also loved playing the acoustic guitar. One of his favorite trips over the years was to Cincinnati to see a Steely Dan show with his oldest son Eric. As Jay became older, he took time to appreciate the quieter side of life; watching the yellow finches in the morning come to the bird feeder and sitting outside with his wife Letty, looking at the stars enjoying stillness and peace.

Jay is preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Mildred (Severenski) Hampton, and his son, Eric Jay Hampton.

Jay is survived by his wife, Letty (Byers) Hampton; daughters, Jessica and Sarah; son, Brian; siblings, Deanna (Paul) Smith and Karen Wilson; nephews, Jeff and Timothy (Angela) Smith and Austin Wilson; two grandsons, Zachary and Cooper (Zumwalt); great nephew, Joseph Smith; and great-nieces, London Wilson and Alayna Smith; and a host of relatives and friends.

Services will be private.

Memorial donations can be made to American Diabetes Association in memoriam.

The family would like to invite anyone to leave a kind word or message of remembrance in celebration of Jay’s life, using the "Guestbook" feature below.