Funeral Expenses for Asher

On March 12th, my best friend and chosen brother Asher Styers unexpectedly passed away.

The last morning of his life was as typical as any other for him: He got up, he applied for jobs, and he attended his virtual coding class over Zoom. He texted me a video of his partner's cat, sent me even more cat videos over social media, and sent a cheery "good morning" text to our group chat. By that afternoon, our family was playing the world's most morbid game of phone tag to let everyone know that he had been declared dead.

Asher was only 21 when he passed, and I had only had the pleasure of knowing him for a fleeting four years before his death. He was a talented artist with a brilliant mind, a natural aptitude for coding and sewing and painting and every imaginable task he set out to finish. He loved cats and always put his cats' needs above his own. He was kind in a way I can't begin to explain, generous even when he was stretched thin, and made everyone feel a little happier and a little lighter just from being in the same room as him. His life was cut tragically short, and instead of growing old with him and walking the long road ahead together, we're left with questions and memories and the type of grief that only time can soothe.

In the wake of this horrible, life-altering tragedy, I want to honor Asher's memory and wishes. He always told me he worried about being a financial burden, especially on his father, even after moving into an apartment miles away from him and becoming as independent as a 21-year-old could be. Death is a burden all on its own, and it carries a heavy price tag. I'd like to cover as much of his final expenses as possible to make that heavy burden a little lighter for his father.

The funds raised will be used:

Any additional funds will be donated to animal welfare and LGBTQ+ focused charities and non-profit organizations.

Thank you for helping us do everything we can to make sure my best friend can rest easy.