JOPLIN, MO — Jason M. Young

Jason Michael Young was born in Pasco, Wash., July 1, 1977, and passed away suddenly Aug. 25, 2012, while attending the Colorado Center for the Blind in Littleton, Colo.

Jason lost his eyesight in August of 2011, after contracting a bacterial infection known as Endophthalmitis from an Ophthalmic Avastin Injection.

He is survived by his mother, Toni Setser, of Rogers, Ark.; his father, Mike Young, of Lamar, Mo.; and maternal grandmother, Geri Setser, of Joplin, Mo. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Charles Setser in 1975.

He is also survived by his  paternal grandparents, Bob and Barbara Dennis, of Lamar, and Gene and Maureen Young, of Spokane, Wash.; two stepbrothers, Ryan Abbiatti, of Lamar, and Jason Abbiatti, of Springfield, Mo.; aunts, Teresa Setser and Connie (Setser) Womack, both of Joplin, and Rosie De Pietro, of Spingfield; great-aunts, Bobbie Gehrt, Burlingame, Kan., Shirley Reed, of Commerce, Okla., and Sue Brookshire, of Miami, Okla.; uncles and their families, Mark Womack, of Joplin., Larry Dennis, of Butler, Mo., Jeff Young, of Spokane, and Brian Young, of Rathdrum, Idaho; and cousins, Ryan Vermillion, of Quapaw, Okla., and Keisha Vermillion, of Joplin.

Jason loved to laugh. He loved his family, his friends, children and animals. He adored his cat, McGuire, aka "Big Mac". Two of his best friends were Jeff Sampson and Jeremy Smith.

Jason attended Joplin Schools and The Los Angeles School for Recording Arts in North Hollywood, Calif. All his life he had an undying passion for music and like his grandfather, Charles he was a great drummer. His music library was astronomical and variant including such artists as, Rush, Frank Sinatra, Jack White, Johnny Cash, Duke Ellington, Eric Clapton, Tommy Dorsey, Mantovani, Metallica, Lamb of God, Dropkick Murphy's, Ministry, Bob Dylan, Buddy Holly, The Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Billie Holiday, The Beatles and Depeche Mode. Jason was also a lover of the arts.

People that knew Jason well would say he was kind, intelligent and witty.  

Jason was cremated in Colorado. A portion of his ashes were scattered in the beautiful Chatfield Reservoir in Littleton, where he went on a canoe trip with friends and had a blast. We played the song "Imagine" as his ashes washed away under a beautiful full orange moon. On Sept. 3, a memorial gathering was held in Joplin.  

Jason lived his life the way he wanted to, he put others' needs in front of his own and didn't want others to worry about him. Honey, you will always be remembered and greatly missed by all those that knew and loved you. We will forever keep you close in our hearts.