Posted on 08/17/2008 10:20:46 AM PDT by Daffynition
My son’s newspaper writeup:
Jeremy A. Earnshaw, One Who Lived Life Well
Jeremy Austin Earnshaw, 23, of Fairbanks, went to be with Jesus on June 16th, 2008 after an accident off Snapper Point in Newcastle, Australia. Jeremy and a friend, Jesse Lee, were walking along rocks on Snapper Point when a rogue wave washed them into heavy seas. We praise God that Jesse was rescued in time, even though Jeremy was not. Our lives and the lives of Jeremy’s friends will be forever changed, as his gentle soul was taken from us much too soon. Although we miss him dearly, we marvel that such a young man could touchso many lives all around the world.
Jeremy was born to Darryl and Ruth Earnshaw on October 12, 1984. Jeremy lived on the same Fairbanks street all of his life. He attended kindergarten at
University Park, and then 1st-12th grade at Monroe, graduating in 2003. Special teachers that touched his life included Francine Mears, Chris Stepovich, and Sandy Walsh.
Jeremy attended Door of Hope Church and frequented Friends Church as well. He loved Jesus, as evidenced by his compelling desire to serve others. An extremely kind and compassionate person, his easy-going nature often broke down barriers that would otherwise have kept people apart. He lived his life on purpose andwith a genuine warmth which truly modeled the verse from Philippians 1:21 tattooed on his chest: “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.”
During summers in Fairbanks or in between his trips back and forth from Australia, Jeremy worked at the Department of Transportation and Barnes and Noble. He was also a member of Public Employees Local 71.
Jeremy loved music, especially artists Keith Green and Jason Upton, and was a bass guitar player in a local band called “With Teeth “. Passionate about books, and particularly about authors C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, and Ken Follett, he enjoyed the classics, loved comics, and always had a book in his hand. Most recently he raved about “The Case for a Creator” by Lee Strobel or “No Little People” by Francis Schaeffer.
Jeremy’s heart was connected to Australia and its street youth, which took him across the ocean to Newcastle several times after high school graduation. Jeremy recently went on staff at Youth With a Mission ( HYPERLINK “http://www.ywamnow.com/"; www.ywamnow.com), working with youth in Newcastle on the Youth Street Skate Team. Jeremy encouraged the youth and enjoyed spending quality time with them, touching many, many lives with hope and encouragement during his short time on the YWAM staff.
In Australia, he loved spending time with his girlfriend Christina, hanging out at the local comic shop, meeting new friends, reading and eating Aussie meat pies. Jeremy had a real fondness for adventure and last year spent two months in Cairo, Egypt, working with YWAM in orphanages, Coptic churches, and new friends he met on the street. In August he was scheduled to participate in a YWAM outreach in Asia.
Jeremy’s circle of love and influence was wide. He and his family spent many years of fun together with the Meurlotts, Jeannets, Kurbers, Chrismans, and the Strattons of England. Tight bonds of family friendship were formed that will carry on for eternity.
Jeremy is survived by his parents, Darryl and Ruth Earnshaw, sister Samantha, nieces Jenna and Jacklyn, and nephew Hunter, his Australian girlfriend/financee, Christina Cupitt, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins in the Lower 48.
Jeremy’s close friends greatly mourn his passing, including Chris Meurlott, Monika Kurber, Jared & Kristill Williams, Tyler & Leanna Williams, Jesse Lee, Daniel Norris, David Norris, Jordan Norris, Mike Freyberger, Steve Miller, Libby Maloney, Sarah Syvertson, Angel Peger, Barbie Keller, Marcy and Paige Compton, Liam Ward, EJ Skinner, Ephy Wheeler, Chad Wilson, Jason Hackenmiller, and a host of other friends both near and far away.
A tribute to Jeremy’s life will be held at Door of Hope Church on Friday, July 18th at 6:30 pm. There will be a potluck afterwards—bring something savory to share as he loved Indian, Italian, Thai, or Mexican food.
Some of Jeremy’s close friends and co-workers from Australia will be attending the July 18th service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made out to the Jeremy Earnshaw Memorial Fund and mailed to 517 Longspur Loop, Fairbanks, AK, 99709.
Please visit HYPERLINK “http://www.jeremyearnshaw.com/"; www.jeremyearnshaw.com to learn more about this remarkable Christian man and the 1.21 movement that was sparked following his death by which Jeremy’s influence and legacy live on.
But my mum is still on this earth somewhere.
I guess this proves that when you spend your life lying or hurting people, it comes back to haunt you.
LOL! No, that is her new redeeming quality.
Seriously, though. I might keep a copy of this, in case I ever get the chance to write my husband's ex-wife's obituary one day. ;-)
I am sorry about the loss of your son, but that is truly a heartwarming tribute to him. Thanks for sharing it.
LOL! That slipped by me as well.
“She must have had at least one redeeming quality.”
Fertility?
(WARNING: Soprano language)
Livia was supposedly based on this man's mother.
My MIL has been gone for many years. There were a few good moments with her but only a few and it took years after her death for me to remember them. And I was the FAVORITE daughter in law.
I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful son.
That is a lovely tribute.
Thank you so much for sharing his testament.
Southern families have a lot of eccentrics and drama queens (of both sexes) but very few actively evil people (apparently the socially acceptable eccentricity and drama allows them to blow off steam). I have known a few, though, and like you I certainly understand where this is coming from.
Thank you very much. I won’t say that that joke was old, but its liver spots are bigger than Ted Kennedy’s actual liver.
Oh man, now I’ll have two. Maybe I’ll save yours until September. LOL
I love old cemetaries too. I usually look for ones where I have ancestors but not always. My husband’s father and grandparents are buried in this small rural cemetary in central Kansas. I want to be buried there to with my husband but my mother in law has said she’s going to give the extra plots to her niece. She never did like me.
He certainly drove in a nail with the character’s name.
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