Ohio – Winter 2021

Lived life to the fullest Drew had a huge heart and would do absolutely anything for his family, friends or strangers. He was funny, charismatic, smart and athletic; good at everything he attempted. Though he loved all sports, baseball was his favorite. “We spent every summer and fall on a baseball field and loved every minute,” his mom said. ‘Drew was a catcher and had the biggest cheering section, and definitely the loudest mom cheering him on.’[...]

Fierce, loving, protective, father, son Brandon was fun, loving, kind and helpful to everyone. He wanted to see people happy and connected. He was protective of those he loved and a risk taker. He enjoyed spending time with family, watching movies and football, and reading Charles Bukowski poems. [...]

Beautiful, tragic, short, sad, lonely, misunderstood Dakota was a deep, beautiful soul. She loved fully and unconditionally and was passionate about teaching acceptance for all people. She loved animals, especially her dog Keta, her loyal protector. She had an intense love for family and was striving to get sober and be an exemplary role model for her younger sisters. [...]

Kind, entertaining, dynamic, optimistic, always put others first Michael was a unique individual with an irresistible, sweet and loving personality. As a toddler he entertained everyone with his quirky, distinctive antics. As he got older he developed a strong and somewhat defiant personality with an underlying heart of gold. He would intervene when kids were being bullied and spend time with those who were on the margins of acceptance. [...]

Young, adventurous, fearless, spontaneous, thoughtful “Jorr was beautiful on the inside and out with large, beautiful blue eyes and a loud, contagious laugh,” her mother said. “She was my spontaneous, free-spirited, wild child who became my best friend.” Jordan was very down to earth though a little rough around the edges and not very friendly at first meeting; but she was loyal and protective of those she loved. She was unapologetically fearless and real; a scrapper, but also very kind, once you got past her hard exterior.[...]

Funny, father, momma’s boy, lover, loyal, Daniel was a handsome, confident, strong-willed and loving man. The rough childhood that he experienced made it difficult to imagine the more normal life he wanted, but he was determined to do better and be the kind, gentle man that was never modeled for him. He just wanted to belong and be loved. [...]

Beautiful, kind, loving, giving, charismatic Dominic was a loving, sensitive person with beautiful blue eyes and a warm smile. He cared about others and looked out for them, often giving food, money and cigarettes to people who were homeless. He was a good listener and always positive. He was good with technology and loved to make people laugh. He enjoyed playing golf, hockey and football and spending time with his nephews, playing hide and seek, wrestling, and giving them rides on his shoulders.[...]

Loving, compassionate, smart, athletic, loyal “Tyler had a presence; it just felt good to be around him,” his mother Shelly said. He was athletic, caring, smart and competitive. He had a sense of justice and an interest in law. He stood up for his beliefs, was close to his parents and two sisters and his extended family. Tyler was loyal and had a good work ethic. He appeared confident, but had an underlying sensitivity and insecurity. [...]

Beautiful, kind, loving daughter, always Megan was a kind, compassionate, authentic person, true to herself and loyal to others. She loved deeply, without hesitation, and was close to her mother, grandmother and older brother Dylan. [...]

Charismatic, hilarious, giving, lovable, tragic From early childhood, Christopher was sweet, funny and loving, especially to his older sister Crystal, who was the light of his life. He was also close to his siblings, Cortney and Coty. He enjoyed Disney World, the beach, swimming, water skiing and wake boarding. He liked fishing and watching sports and could listen to music for hours. [...]

Strong, funny, compassionate, deep, loving Aaron was a good kid, very outgoing, adaptable and relatable; he was just himself. When he was little he would walk up to people and say: “Hi, I’m Aaron, my birthday is July 6th.” His sociable, kind, generous and supportive nature stayed present throughout his life. [...]

Energetic, loving, generous, charismatic, deep thinker Josh was bigger than life, with an infectious laugh and boundless energy that introduced him before he even spoke. He was an animated talker, a possibility thinker and always optimistic. He had a soft spot for the underdog and provided direction to those who needed a little encouragement. [...]

Kind, loving, jokester with a great smile and infectious laugh Noah was a kind, gentle and loving kid. He was generous with his time and possessions and was always helping someone. He had an amazing laugh and uncanny sense of humor. He loved his cats, Tiger and Boozer, playing basketball at the park, skateboarding and BMX riding. “He loved food and scaring people,” his mom said, ‘Music and the ladies, that’s what 19-year-old boys live for!’[...]

Loving, caring, goofy, friendly, adventurous At 6’6” and with a tall Mohawk, Joel was an impressive presence. He didn’t care what anyone thought about how he looked, and people soon came to know him for his heart. He was a loyal friend and good at teaching others about things he loved. He was gentle and smart and a loving, patient father to his son, Kai.[...]

Loving, compassionate, adventurous, creative, charismatic Brittany was as beautiful inside as out. Her genuine, caring, compassionate personality combined with her hilarious side made her a “one of a kind” person; a Unicorn. She was outgoing, bubbly, and crazy at times; she could relate to anyone and never met a stranger.[...]

Loving, funny, kind, creative, wonderful Jordan had a big heart, a great sense of humor, and was kind and generous to everyone he met. There was no one Jordan didn’t like, and everyone liked him. He didn’t talk about people or judge them and had great empathy for whatever they were going through. He never hesitated to jump right in and help anyone who needed it. In short; he was a good soul. [...]

Adventurous, outgoing, creative, loving mom, helpful The predominate theme of Abbie’s life from childhood to adult, centered on how kindhearted and comforting she was to[...]

Creative, stubborn, loving, eccentric, compassionate Arika was described by her sister as spunky, stubborn, and full of fun. She was open- minded, accepting, loving and the sweetest, kindest, most ornery person. She liked weird things like pickle juice and vinegar and was silly, dramatic and loved playing pranks. She was determined in everything she did. She loved sports, particularly softball, and despite her small stature, she also excelled in basketball. She was tiny, but mighty. [...]

He touched lives with compassion Josh was a loving, empathetic man; a very old soul. He loved people unreservedly. From an early age, he had a passion for mentoring and encouraging others; the compassion he carried in his heart was visible in his eyes and displayed in his actions. He could easily have an in-depth conversation with his 85-year-old grandmother, and in the next moment be playing on the floor with his 7-year-old niece.[...]

Sweet, compassionate, gentle, understanding, brave As a child and young man, Zane was a joyful, kind and generous soul who lived to serve his friends and family in any way he could. From a young age, he helped around his home and on his grandparent’s farm, always eager to please people and make them smile. He was intelligent, calm and sweet and enjoyed being around others, but also needed time to be alone to recharge.[...]

His life was lessons taught. Daniel was an amazing young man with a passion for life, family and friends. He was kind, adventurous and loving; he drew people in. He set out every day to make a difference to someone, yet he never fully understood how much impact he had on the lives of others. [...]

Father, son, brother, grandson, nephew, friend Wiley was playful, giving, understanding and non-judgmental. He was a loved family member, father and friend and thought of others more than himself. He loved openly with no agenda, and believed in second, and even third chances. He was a light in the darkness. [...]

Kind, adventurous, creative, music lover, beautiful soul Sarah was very well read and an avid music lover. She loved going to concerts and sharing new music. She also enjoyed cooking and hosting dinners with family and friends. Sarah launched her own business, Synapse Jewelry and Crystals, and worked consistently to improve her Jewelry making skills. She was excited to be accepted into the Canton Flea Market and prepared a lot of jewelry to sell at her first big event.[...]

Honest, unapologetic, funny, brilliant, competitive From the day Justice was born there was something unique about his personality. He was honest and unapologetic, yet sweet. He was raw, authentic and a breath of fresh air. A loyal and devoted friend, he surrounded himself with kindred spirits including his loving girlfriend, Johanna.[...]

Funny, kind, strong, loving, determined, smart Zach was a light in the life of anyone lucky enough to know him. His laughter was electric. He could make anyone feel comfortable and strike up a conversation with the quietest person in the room. His kindness, personality, work ethic, and humor are qualities he will always be remembered for. And he could cook![...]

It was a good life; it just wasn’t long enough “Joe was my sarcastic, funny, and politically incorrect son,” his mom said. ‘He was fearless and a daredevil.’ Joe enjoyed being outdoors, camping, fishing and gardening, but his passion was reading. He devoured books and read the daily newspaper whenever possible. Joe loved to eat; chocolate milk was his favorite beverage, but everything sweet that he ate had to be vanilla. [...]

Always loved; his life matters As a boy, Josh loved to read, learn and expand his knowledge base. In high school, his scores on standardized testing were in the top 2% in the entire nation. Josh not only read, but committed everything to memory and used his skills in various ways to help others. He amazed people all the time with his abilities, and his mentors said there was nothing that Josh couldn’t do if he wanted to. His mother called him “her walking computer.”[...]

Meaningful, short, inspiring and difficult life David was a hardworking, bright, loyal and loving man. He was serious but funny, laid back and relaxed, and appeared to be happy. He was a man of few words, so when he spoke, his words carried weight. His mother said: “I always knew though, since he was a toddler, that he had a sadness deep within him.”[...]

Loud, loving, compassionate, kind, brave Sheena had a spark; she was loud, brave, fearless and stood up for her beliefs. She was a beloved mother, daughter and sister; a caregiver by heart. She was also kind, loving, and fought for the underdog.[...]

Intelligent, funny, charming, charismatic, loved his family Andy was personable, funny and kind, with a charismatic smile that got everyone’s attention. He was very family oriented and loved getting together with his extended family at Christmas, often having conversations with cousins and elders in the group. He was loyal, and a “vault” when it came to keeping secrets that people shared with him.[...]

Profound, deep thinker, selfless, giving, loved CJ was wise, selfless, and non-judgmental which made people comfortable when they were with him and caused them to feel good about themselves. He was the center of attention at family gatherings because people were naturally attracted to him. CJ was extremely giving and had an enormous heart, and was described as an old soul. He was also comical, fun and very spiritual and a talented writer, as evidenced by his uplifting and motivational journals, which often referred to his relationship to God.[...]

Love, sadness, drugs, loss, incomplete John was a complex person. He was loving and protective, kind, and present for his wife, Charlotte, son, Michael and for other family members and friends. He loved sports and was easygoing and fun. He was a hard working husband and father; he could be relied upon. “We were a team, we shared helping others, taking care of people,” his wife said. [...]

Handsome, hard worker, loved the outdoors, genuine, kind Keith was a hard worker, very giving and always there to help with anything. He couldn’t say no to anyone and was sometimes taken advantage of as a result. He was polite, caring, kind and honest and just a little bit ornery. He could be quiet until you got to know him, but would eventually open up. He was down to earth and authentic, and according to his mom, he had the longest eyelashes ever! [...]

Kind, compassionate, very creative, with a heart of gold. Danny was a caring, kind and compassionate man with a heart of gold and a loving attitude. He never judged or talked about others and had friends from all walks of life. [...]

He was the most amazing. Tyler was magnetic. He would walk in a room and it would brighten. He was the joke teller at every gathering and brought life to every party. He had a glorious smile and his laugh was so contagious that even if you didn’t know what he was laughing about; you had to join in. [...]

Vibrant, Misunderstood, Chaotic, Burdened, Numb From the day Chase was born he chose not to take life seriously because “all life ends;” choosing instead to be present in the moment and enjoy the journey. He was a peacekeeper, always looking for ways to diffuse tense situations, wanting everyone to be friends. He was always a gentleman and the words ma’am and sir never left his vocabulary. [...]

Charismatic, feisty, loving, funny, bigger-than-life Christina was feisty, outspoken, and fearless; a bigger than life personality. She was stunningly gorgeous, had a robust, contagious laugh, a big heart and would do anything for a friend. She had a crazy sense of humor; a big smile and her energy preceded her into a room.[...]

The perfect storm “Brian was my calm, and he was my storm,” his wife Kristie said. ’He was the other half of my heart and my soul and a firm supportive father wanting nothing but the best for all his children.’ When Kristie met Brian for the first time and asked his name, he said; “Brian Wright, as in Mr. Right,” ‘then sheepishly apologized for the cheesy line; evidently it worked.[...]

Over before it really began Though Jade was always optimistic, she carried the weight of the past and a lot of pain with her. She was fun, bubbly and goofy and loved being around people. She always tried to shake off difficulty saying, “I feel like it’s going to be fine.” [...]