Jarrett's Story

At 9:35 AM on May 7, 1984, Jarrett made his appearance into the world weighing in at 6 lb. 11 oz. and 21 inches in length. Although there were a few problems, he was basically a healthy baby. Over the months and years to come he grew from baby to toddler to school age boy. His school life was one of adventure and misadventure. He had problems but nothing that a little ingenuity didn' t help. He was a hands on person loving anything that required building, designing, etc. When it came to the book learning end of school work, he had more problems keeping interested.

As he grew older and his personality developed, so did his love for many things. He loved learning to operate computers at school. From year to year as he became more advanced, he went from computer student to computer instructor. Not only did he teach us, his parents what he had learned but after reaching middle school age he volunteered to teach students in the multi-handicapped class too. He had such a good relationship with them that they became apt students eager to learn what he had to show them.

About the same time he came to love computers, he was also developing another interest that grew and grew. That interest was the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although he had difficulty sitting still to watch an entire game, he was an avid fan of the Steelers. He had all kinds of Steelers items from clothes to posters to anything you can imagine. His room was filled with his collection. It still is although he is gone.

At about the age of eleven he developed yet another love that was to become what was probably his greatest passion, dirt biking. He first attended races with dad, admiring the riders as they zoomed through the fields and woods at the hare scrambles they watched. As time went on he made it known that he longed for his own bike. After much discussion, we bought him an 80cc Yamaha for Christmas, 1997.

He began riding the bike as soon as the weather would permit, riding for hours on end wearing trails in the field next to his home. When he was able to ride well enough, dad took him and his bike to a hare scramble where he entered the race. He soon discovered that while he loved trail riding, he didn't like racing as well. He rode in several races but never did well enough to win. One of the race locations opened the park to trail ride when it wasn't race day. Jarrett went there many times to ride. He was in his glory when he was on that dirt bike. That was where all else was forgotten as he rode his cares away.

Then one fateful Sunday morning, March 28, 1999, he and a neighbor left for a day of riding. According to eyewitness accounts from many who were there, he did thoroughly enjoy himself that day. Even when his companion stopped to rest, Jarrett wanted to keep riding. He knew it was against common sense rules to go on the trails alone so while his companion rested, he rode up and down the small rolling hills in a huge open field next to the parking area. Although riding through the woods would be unsafe alone, no one ever thought he would be hurt riding in the open where dozens of people would see if he took a spill.

Just before 5:00 that afternoon as he was riding up one of those small hills, another rider came speeding the other direction. Showing no interest in anyone but himself, the other rider rode as if he had not a care in the world. As he came to the incline that Jarrett was riding up, he pulled his powerful new 400cc Yamaha into a wheelie and rip roared over the top not caring that other riders were nearby. It was while his bike was in that position that his front tire came crashing into Jarrett's face tearing his helmet from his head. The wheel then came down on Jarrett's chest killing him instantly. He was just short of his 15th birthday when he was so violently taken from us.

According to numerous witness accounts, the nineteen year old young man who rode the other bike had been riding like a lunatic for most of the afternoon racing around with a friend through the field where the crash took place. Accounts say he repeatedly rode at high rates of speed going past groups of onlookers so close they could have reached out and touched him. Unfortunately, Jarrett and his companion had been in the woods riding the trails and were unaware of the danger lurking in the seemingly tranquil field.

The call came from Jarrett's companion just before 5:00 telling us what had happened. We were told he had been seriously injured in a head on crash but didn't know he had been killed instantly. After being told which hospital he would be taken to, I called Jarrett's older sister then rushed to the emergency room to wait. We arrived just before 5:30 then his sister Dawn and her boyfriend David arrived a short time later. At about 6:00 hospital personnel led us to a small room to wait. We knew then that the news must be bad but still didn't realize he was gone. A short time later a nurse came in to ask for an insurance card but said she had no further information to offer us. Minutes after she left, the hospital chaplain came in. Like the nurse, he said he knew nothing more than we did and had just come to see if we needed anything. I had a bad feeling about him being there but still didn't realize our son was gone.

Finally at a few minutes before 7:00, two women and a man came into the room. One woman and the man were dressed in hospital attire while the other woman was dressed in street clothes. That was the one who took charge of the conversation. She began by asking if we were Jarrett's parents then asked if Dawn and David were his brother and sister. Dawn told her she was his sister and the young man with her was her boyfriend.

The woman looked from one of us to the other. After a few seconds she said, "I am from the coroners office. I may as well tell you right out that Jarrett was dead at the scene." I know she was simply doing her job but she seemed so cold when she said those life changing words. Minutes later she left the room with the others saying she would prepare Jarrett for us to see him.

It was nearly a half hour later when she came back for us. Due to the severity of his injuries, she told us she had covered him with sheets and for us not to move anything. When we reached the room where he was the only part of him we could see was a small area around his right eye and part of his right hand. The rest had been mutilated so severely that we weren't able to see it.

The next few days went by in pretty much of a blur. We went through the motions of life doing what had to be done at that point in time but doing little else. We buried our son on Thursday, April 1, 1999.

A few days before his 15th birthday, we received a call from his school inviting us to attend a tree planting ceremony. The students and staff of the multi-handicapped class where he had spent so much time helping the kids were planting a weeping cherry tree in his memory. The tree was to be planted on Jarrett's birthday. After it was in the ground, a bronze plaque was placed in front of it bearing his name and a photo of him. Nearly half the staff and faculty of the school attended the ceremony, each taking a turn telling what he or she remembered about Jarrett. It was a wonderful though sad ceremony.

The multi-handicapped students and teachers invited us inside to join them for snacks the students had made for us. We visited with them for a while before leaving to head for the cemetery to give Jarrett a Pittsburgh Steelers flag for his birthday. That flag still waves there today although tattered by the wind and weather. As long as we are physically able to do it, the flag will be replaced with a new one when it is no longer serviceable. Our beloved son is gone now and no longer able to receive the gifts we would like to give him. In this way, we can still have the satisfaction of knowing we are doing the only thing we can for him by keeping his favorite team's flag flying above him as he sleeps.

Additionally, his headstone has etchings of a Steelers football helmet and the same dirt bike drawing that appears on this website. Those were his two greatest loves and it only seems fitting that they should be with him for eternity.

Jarrett should have graduated from Columbiana High School with the class of 2003. Because of the negligence of one young man, we were never able to see our son in his graduation cap and gown. Thanks to the efforts of a wonderful friend, we can now see what Jarrett would have looked like in his graduation finery.

Thank you, Elaine, for making this vision of Jarrett possible.
I can now picture my son walking across the stage of his Heavenly graduation to accept his diploma.

Click the above banner to visit the website created in memory of Jarrett's grandparents.

Thank you Sueann for this gift in remembrance of Jarrett's 5th year away from us.
Your thoughtfullness and caring is very much appreciated.

Again I thank Sueann for her kindness in making this special banner for me in remembrance of Jarrett. Such a special friend she is to never forget my son and I.

Home Family Photo Album Criminal case update against man who caused Jarrett's death Jarrett's Awards Online Grief Support Sites A Tribute to Jarrett's Grandma Tribute to the brave ones who lost their lives on 9-11 Jarrett's Mom's Gifts Jarrett's Mom's Poetry Pages Homepage Merry Christmas Jarrett 2003 Santa's Angel Christmas Story Jarrett's Fifth Year in Heaven Jarrett's 20th Birthday

Click here to read Jarrett's first Guestbook.

Click here to read Jarrett's second Guestbook.

Please click on the banners below to vote for Jarrett's site in these top site lists.

Jarrett is remembered. Your angel can be remembered too.
Click the banner below to add your angel to this wonderful website.

Thank you Beth for this lovely plate honoring Jarrett.

All graphics and content on this site are ©copyrighted to Jarrett
and may not be reproduced without express permission.