John Aaron Abernathy

We are shocked and grieved to announce that John Aaron Abernathy, 39, of Pocatello, Idaho passed away unexpectedly on May 23rd, 2022 after battling multiple health issues. John changed his address from the Whitman Apartments to Glory and Grace Avenue. He has been reunited with his older brother Solomon Daniel Abernathy. Those who will cherish his memory include his father Daniel Gene Abernathy, his mother Kathleen Francis Ricks, and his siblings Christopher Abernathy, Leah Abernathy, Celina Abernathy, Mark Abernathy, Rebekah Abernathy, Jacob Abernathy, Angela Griffin, Matthew Ricks, Michael Ricks, Jr., and multiple nieces and nephews.

John was born on February 16th, 1983 in Portland, Oregon to Daniel and Kathleen Abernathy. He spent his early childhood with his siblings, who he was very close to, in Portland. As a young teenager, most of his siblings would move to Pocatello, Idaho with their father. He spent his teenage years in Idaho and graduated high school from Highland Highschool in 2001. He also regularly attended church at Calvary Chapel and continued his Christian faith after moving away. He spent his adulthood moving between Oregon, Montana, and Idaho, where family and close friends lived, especially his mother.

John was an old soul whose passion was classic television shows and music. He was also very interested in the bands, musicians, actors, and actresses of these arts. He often knew by heart important dates and facts about them, such as their birthdays. He didn’t just enjoy the stories of their musical or acting successes; he enjoyed the stories of the artists themselves. John enjoyed 80s/new wave/90s, country, and family-friendly TV shows the best, but he also enjoyed music and family TV shows that aired in the 1990s.

We will always remember John’s sense of humor, generous heart, and commitment to friends and family. He regularly sought to make friends and family laugh and enjoyed laughing at their jokes and humor as well. He was also kind with children and animals. John had a great relationship with his nephews and nieces, and his childlike spirit made him a wonderful playmate for them. He also enjoyed family pets, including the family pet Gizmo and his sister Celina’s dogs Roxie and Sadie. John welcomed every stranger as a new friend. He often said, “Oh really?” and “That’s interesting!” to those he spoke with, because he was genuinely interested in everything that they had to say and wanted to hear more. He also sought to make others feel important, welcomed, and cared for. He did not hold back from openly sharing his affection for others. His legacy of love remains in the hearts of all who knew him.

Cremation was completed at Wilks Funeral Home on May 26th. A memorial service will be held on June 9th, 2022 from 5-7:00pm in Boise Idaho.

John was a born again Christian and Jesus Christ was his Lord and Savior. 
These scriptures are his eulogy from his father, Dan:

Ecclesiastes Chapter 3:1-8

Everything has it’s time

1 - To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven:

2 – A time to be born. And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted

3 – A time to kill. And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up;

4 – A time to weep. And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;

5 – A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;

6 – A time to gain. And a time to lose. A time to keep, And a time to throw away;

7 – A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;

8 - A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace,

The Substitute for You!

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Imanuels veins and sinners plunge beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains when God became a man and said I am that I am; For John this is not the end but it’s just the beginning!  John 14:6 (NKJ)