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Jason Gatewood, 41

Jason Gatewood, 41, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, after a long and difficult battle with a debilitating neurological disorder. He was at Hospice of North Idaho’s Schneidmiller House where he was surrounded by his wonderful family and loving, dedicated wife.

Jason was born on May 20, 1977, in Pennsylvania. After moving around a lot as a child he settled in North Idaho along with his parents to be near his brother. He married, started a family, received his Master’s of Fine Arts from Washington State University and taught sculpture at WSU, before becoming completely disabled and moving to Coeur d’Alene in 2005.

In 2011, he met and married the love of his life, Rachelle (Snavely) of Fruitland, Idaho. The couple loved each other deeply and brought so much joy into each other’s lives. His children also meant the world to him, and he was an incredibly loving and supportive Dad to his son, Jayden, and daughter, Kyla. His family was everything to him, and he strived every day to take care of them and make them feel loved. His loss is a tragedy that will forever leave an emptiness in their hearts. Other important family members in his life include his parents, Dan and Shirlee (Arnold) Gatewood, who supported him through thick and thin; his older brother, Chris Gatewood, whom he always looked up to and admired; his sister-in-law, Laura, whom he loved as a sister; and his nieces and nephews, whom he absolutely adored.

Jason will be most remembered by his friends and family for his kind and caring heart. He had a special gift of making everyone feel immediately appreciated and accepted just the way they were. He was genuine through and through and would look you straight in the eyes and just listen with true interest and care. He also had such a positive attitude despite the many struggles he faced, and it had a way of rubbing off on those around him as well.

Jason touched the lives of so many in very profound ways during his short stay on this earth. He supported them as they overcame their demons, helped them to accept themselves and realize that it’s OK to be different, and taught them to look at the bright side even when it’s hard to see. His legacy will live on in their hearts and lives.

Please join the family in celebrating this precious life at an informal memorial service, which will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, at the Hospice of North Idaho Community Center. You are also invited to stay after to support one another, share memories, and enjoy one of Jason’s passions in life — food. There will not be a traditional burial as Jason wanted to continue to help others even in death and chose to donate his body to the WSU College of Medicine Willed Body Program. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in his name to Hospice of North Idaho.

“Thank you, Jason, for just being you no matter what anyone thought. For showing us that ‘Different is Not Bad; it is Quite the Same.’”