For Jonathon "Gary" Abeyta - A Light Lost Too Soon

With a broken heart I write that my dear friend Jonathan, who so many of us knew and loved as Gary, is gone. He was deeply loved and his absence leaves an unfillable space in our lives. Please keep him in your thoughts and honor his memory with kindness. It’s hard to put into words what this loss feels like.

Gary was one of those people who just made life more fun. He was, he is an incredible friend.

The memories — the conversations, the laughs, the times we shared — are things I’ll keep with me. He was an artist with real talent. I’m not saying that just because I was his friend; he truly had a gift.

I’m going to miss him and I know I’m not the only one.

He was also a deeply loved son and brother. His mom and sister meant the world to him, and he meant the world to them. They were close and losing him has left his mother facing something no parent should ever have to go through. Along with that grief comes the financial strain of funeral costs and other unexpected expenses.

This fundraiser is to help carry some of that weight and to give them the opportunity to grieve without the added worry of how to afford everything that comes after such a sudden loss. Every dollar will go directly to his mom—to honor Gary’s life.

If you knew Gary, you know how much he meant to the people around him. If you didn’t, I wish you had. He was special and his absence is felt deeply.

Please give if you can, share if you’re able to and please, check in on the people you love. Sometimes the ones who carry the most pain are also the ones who hide it best.

We love you, Gary.