The world lost one of its most critical minds, tenderest hearts, sharpest wits, and keenest eyes on Sunday, October 2nd. 

 Health challenges - both physical & mental - dimmed his spark over the past year, but he dealt with them on his terms - by thoroughly researching the facts, facing the realities, and being brutally honest about what he would and would not accept. He possessed a rare combination of love for life and a firm understanding that living life without being able to do the things he loved was not one he was interested in pursuing. 

Of all the methods, Jared loved the scientific one best. You might have heard him utter the words, “eschew the woo,” as he delighted in subverting new age conventions and challenging anything not evidence-based. The failure of science & medicine to diagnose and treat his debilitating pain was a disappointment he could not bear, so he took matters into his own hands and put an end to his suffering on his own terms, with a handful of the many pills prescribed to treat his ever-expanding symptoms. 

It was a dark ending for one of the brightest people you could ever have the pleasure of meeting. 

A comedic genius with the quickest wit, the sharpest intellect, and a commitment to his various “bits,” he took great pride in making those around him giggle like a schoolgirl with his irreverent sense of humor. 

Jared loved the natural world, and delighted in the smallest details of leaves and flowers, as well as the grandiosity and beauty of the earth’s mountains, rivers, beaches & forests. Rural meadows with dilapidated barns made him weep with nostalgia for a time he never got to live in. If you find yourself captivated by the humble beauty of rural America, think of Jared. 

His love of nature and beauty was only rivaled by his deep passion for ice cream.

There wasn’t a child he wouldn’t entertain. He savored the sparkle in their eyes, their curiosity, and their innocent sweetness. One of the great injustices of life is that he didn’t have the chance to meet his infant granddaughter, Lila, whom he loved and delighted in from a distance. Even dogs longed to speak to him, as evidenced by the many dogs he inspired to express themselves and with which he formed deep and long-lasting relationships over many years. 

He was an artist at heart, with a unique way of expressing his vision across various mediums. Over the course of nearly 25 years, he painstakingly and lovingly renovated, added to, and reimagined an early-1900s farmhouse in rural South Knoxville. He left his family with a home that reflects his eye for detail in every corner, full of local art, tools, unfinished home repair projects, stolen signs, and broken hearts.

For all his complex emotions, at-times-brutal honesty, keen intellect, and charm, his sensitivity was the underlying quality that guided his actions - both good and bad. 

In lieu of flowers, please refuse lazy thinking and cliches, delight in the lines of a leaf, and disparage any design that doesn’t reflect a commitment to beauty & artistry. Take time to appreciate, challenge yourself, and cherish the gargantuan importance of tiny and beautiful things. Also, please donate to Native Plant Rescue Squad, the organization he volunteered for with love for many years - https://www.nativeplantrescuesquad.org

Jared leaves behind his wife of nearly 20 years, Jen, who fought alongside him for months as they sought a solution to his rapidly deteriorating health situation. The deep pain and countless challenges she faced toward the end of their time together pale in contrast with the many years of love and laughter that characterized their relationship. His ethos must — and will — continue to live on in his beloved children, Starling and Maxfield, and his grandchild, Lila. His impact on his family, the community, and the world cannot be quelled by death.

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