Jared Christopher Merrill

Jared Christopher Merrill, 25, passed away on October 27, 2024.

Jared was born on May 14, 1999 in Pocatello, Idaho, a place that he loved his whole life. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He enjoyed scouting and earned his Arrow of Light and Eagle Scout award. While attending Highland High School, he only dreamed of being outdoors. Jared enjoyed his years playing Lacrosse. In the summer of 2017, he attended two Rodeo Bible Camps to test his fate riding bulls. He won belt buckles at both camps. He graduated in 2017 from Highland High School after which he joined the army and wished to serve in the infantry. He graduated from Fort Benning as a Rifleman. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne, The Screaming Eagles, and loved his time at Fort Campbell with his brothers in arms. He did a six-month deployment in Cameroon, Africa, and later travelled to Rwanda to help train the Rwandan Military. Following the army, he farmed for two years in Taber, Idaho where he loved spending days and nights on a tractor outdoors. He then found his calling in life as a Wildland Firefighter for the BLM. After serving one year on an engine crew he had the opportunity to become a Snake River Hotshot. This year he travelled to six different states helping to fight their fires. 

Jared lived life on his own terms. He was a loyal friend and enjoyed helping others no matter how difficult a task could be. He loved everything about the outdoors; hunting, hiking, fishing, mountain biking, skiing, shooting guns and riding motorcycles.

Jared is survived by his parents Steve and Jan, his siblings Hannah, Ben, and Karson, his sweetheart Natalie Redetzke, his grandparents Dwayne and Vicki Merrill, and Nathan and Ann Yearsley, his aunts, uncles and cousins, his loyal friends, his Brothers in Arms, and his BLM Wildland Fire Crew.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4890 Whitaker Road, Pocatello, ID.  Viewings will be from 5:00 - 8:00 pm on Friday, November 1 at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W Chubbuck Road, Chubbuck, ID and at 10:00 am on Saturday at the church.  Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, 

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