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As most of you know, my son Brayden Garber passed away unexpectedly. He was just 19 years old. I found him on October 6, 2021. Far beyond any mother's worst nightmare came true for me. For our entire family. I will relive that day everyday for the rest of my life. We will continue to miss him every moment.
Brayden left behind five younger siblings and an older brother. His passing has left a huge hole in so many hearts and lives. Not having him here has caused waves of devastation and unimaginable pain that seems to go on and on and on.
To read more about our Brayden, view
Braydens Obituary here.
Brayden's 20th birthday is coming up on February 20th. I imagined I would be picking out a cake for him to share with his siblings, helping him with car upgrades as a gift. Maybe more decor for his apartment. I imagined helping little siblings design birthday cards to surprise him. What I didn't picture was designing his headstone.
I couldn't bring myself to think about a headstone during the first few months. It was just too much. Too overwhelming, stressful, emotional. Too permanent. I finally forced myself "go there." I needed to begin this process for him. To honor him.
Brayden deserves to be memorialized with a headstone that reflects his life. Brayden's brothers, sisters, family and friends deserve a beautiful place where they can go to visit. A place to bring flowers, sit, grieve and remember. A place to be comforted by meaningful images that reflect the incredible person Brayden was, by future generations to come.
This week, I started to panic when I realized just how long this process can take and how expensive it will be.
We pray we can order the headstone by his birthday. That's a BIG prayer. But, we have faith this can be accomplished.
The cemetery requires half of the total cost to get proofs to us and to place order. The remaining half is necessary before headstone can be put in the ground once it comes in. We are focusing on the first half.
We met with cemetery staff this week. They say it can take a year for it to come in. Maybe longer, with it being customized. His papa's headstone just came in, after nearly 10 months. This is going to be a long wait for us.
We sat down with Dean to discuss our customization ideas. We very much would like to get an upright, black granite stone. We are looking at personalized laser engraving/etching, possibly front and/or back (funds permitting). And photo of him on front. We wish for the headstone to reflect Brayden's interests and hobbies, with these personal touches. His siblings will be helping make final decisions on the design.
If you feel moved to donate and/or share on social media, please know your help is deeply appreciated by our family. We are still working through funeral service and burial expenses at this time. If you would prefer to donate directly, you can contact Dean Yoder at Gilliland Cemetery in Sweet Home to inquire.
Thank you all so much.
#WeRememberBraydenGarber
Newborn Brayden.
February 2002
Great Grandma Inez holding Brayden.
February 2002
Koby and Brayden.
May 2002
Almost 6 months old.
August 2002
Brayden and Koby.
January 2003
Brayden's first birthday.
February 2003
February 2003
He was the cutest baby.
Brayden and Koby.
October 2003
Koby and Brayden.
Halloween 2003
Christmas 2003
Brayden's second birthday.
February 2004
Koby, Dayne and Brayden.
July 2004
Koby and Brayden.
Summer 2004
Dayne, Koby, Brayden and Syndelle.
July 2005
Koby, Brayden and Syndelle.
July 2005
Koby, Brayden, Dayne and baby Syndelle.
February 2006
Koby, Brayden, Dayne and Syndelle.
2006
2008
2009
Dayne, Brayden holding Siyember, Koby, Taivyn and Syndelle, Cascadia.
2010
2010
Dayne, Brayden and Siyember.
2011
Brayden, Dayne and Syndelle.
2011
Brayden and Syndelle, Halloween.
2011
Dayne, Taivyn, Syndelle, Brayden, Siyember and Koby, Christmas.
2011
Koby, Brayden, Dayne and Taivyn.
2012
Brayden, Dayne, Koby, Taivyn, Syndelle and Siyember.
2012
2012
Syndelle, Brayden, Dayne and Taivyn.
2012
Koby and Brayden.
2012
Siyember and Brayden.
Captain let him steer catamaran sailboat in San Francisco.
2013
Pier 39, San Francisco.
2013
Syndelle, Koby, Dayne, newborn Tyson, Taivyn, Siyember and Brayden.
2014
Brayden, Tyson and Siyember.
2014
Brayden and Tyson.
2014
Brayden and Siyember.
2015
Brayden and Tyson.
2015
Brayden and Tyson.
2016
Leaving for his DC trip.
March 2016
In front of the White House.
March 2016
Riding trip.
2017
Brayden and Taivyn.
2017
Driver's permit.
2017
Riding his dirtbike.
2017
Brayden and Tyson, Golden Gate Bridge.
2017
Brayden, Tyson and Dayne, on Alcatraz Island.
2017
Tyson and Brayden.
2017
May 2018
Tyson and Brayden.
2018
Senior photo session, Pioneer Park. 2019
Graduation.
June 2020
Dayne, Siyember, Baya, Tyson, Syndelle, Taivyn, Brayden and Koby.
Cascadia Park.
July 2020
Our very last family photos all together. Siyember, Koby, Layla, Ben, Ross, Maddy, Mom, Tyson, Brayden, Taivyn, Dayne and Syndelle.
October 21, 2020
Very last photo of all siblings together. Dayne, Brayden, Tyson, Syndelle, Taivyn, Koby and Siyember.
October 21, 2020
Just bought his Nissan 350Z.
April 2021
Driving his Z
May 2021
July 2021
October 19, 2021
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November 2021
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Christmas Eve. 2021
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He never got to see his "Z" blanketed by snow.
December 26, 2021
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January 2022
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BRAYDEN'S 20th BIRTHDAY
February 20, 2022
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March 2022
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Sign has new steel vase and holder.
July 17, 2022
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Dayne and Syndelle's senior photo session included Brayden. Smith Rock. Terrebonne, Oregon.
September 2022
Co-organizers7
Koby Garber
Co-organizer
Kristina Zook
Co-organizer
Melissa McDonald
Co-organizer
Siyember Krasnay
Co-organizer