Aaron Jesse Marrs

MARRS, AARON JESSE, 26, of Louisville, was lost at sea on Saturday, January 15, 2005, while working aboard the crab boat, The Big Valley, in the Bering Sea, north of the Alaskan Aleutian Island chain. "Aaron lived life passionately and fearlessly." He grew up in Louisville, graduated from Eastern High School, played in bands and participated in the ministries, Youth For Christ, Rock the Pole, several youth groups and the Chrysalis retreats. Aaron was a founding member of Sojourn Community Church, a church planted in Louisville in 2000. He also was very involved with EDGE Outreach and their water purification program. He did freelance design for musicians and ministries around the Louisville area and his talents were noticed by Nashville Record executives, which resulted in a job with Gotee records for several years working on their record covers and promotional materials. More recently, Aaron set out on his own as a film director, starting Paperjack Films, an independent company that produced a few commercials and music videos and was working on a full-length documentary on Alaskan fishing boats and the communities around them. Aaron's work on the film connected him with Gary Edwards, the captain of The Big Valley. "These life achievements are minor compared to the deep and wide web of friendships that Aaron had. He was a best friend to many of us. There are many who either 'lived' at his house for a season or he 'lived' at theirs. Aaron was a constantly giving and sincere friend. His ability to tell a great story was unmatched. He could keep a room full of people, whether friends or strangers, in rapt attention as he told stories. His sincere faith and his willingness to struggle and ask hard questions made him the kind of friend who sharpened and encouraged the journey that believers share in seeking to become like Christ." He was preceded in death by his mother, Tamra Marrs, and his grandfather, Myron "Bub" Marrs. He leaves behind hundreds of friends; his sisters, Megan and Alyson; his brothers, Ben, Nathan (Jackie), Ethan and Evan; his parents, Rick and Kim Marrs; grandparents, Denora "Dee" and Donnie Jessie, Ruth Marrs and Ralph and Marcella Perry; great-grandparents, John and Edna Emmetsberger; a very special friend, Laura York; and multiple aunts, uncles and loving cousins. A memorial service has already been held. The family has requested that memorial donations be given to the Tamra J. Marrs Adoption Memorial Fund or the Aaron Marrs Memorial Fund for the completion of his documentary of Alaskan fishing. Donations can be mailed to 11309 Bodley Drive, Louisville, KY 40223.