Austin Tyler Adkins

With broken hearts and tear-filled eyes, we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved Austin Tyler Adkins on June 18, 2025, at the age of 25 — a day that should have been ordinary but now holds extraordinary weight in our lives.

Austin was born on April 24, 2000, in Layton, Utah to his parents Heather Adkins (Boseman) and Terry Adkins. He was the cutest, chubbiest, blonde hair, blue-eyed baby you have ever seen. His adventurous soul grew up to be a tall and handsome young man. A true original. He was a son, a brother, a grandson, an uncle, a nephew, a bonus kid and sibling, a cousin, and a friend. But to those who really knew him, he was something even more: our quiet champion, our gentle jokester, and our deeply loved teddy bear.

Austin was a beautiful mix of contradictions — an introvert with a wicked sense of humor, a shy soul who could steal the spotlight with a perfectly timed joke or one of his ridiculous voices. He was goofy, quirky, reserved, and a little awkward, but in a way that only made him more endearing. He was also whip-smart — especially when it came to math — and just stubborn enough to make every conversation slightly longer than it needed to be.

He had a giant heart that bled kindness. He noticed things others missed — especially if someone needed help, a laugh, or just someone to sit beside them. He was observant, thoughtful, selfless, and yes, occasionally gullible — which we may or may not have exploited in the name of sibling fun. (Sorry, Austin. Kind of.)

Austin loved playing cards and board games (particularly Phase 10 and Monopoly, especially if he could beat you at it), being around his family and friends, enjoying tuna casserole and carrot cake like they were gourmet meals, being outdoors (especially by the river), fishing and finding subtle ways to one-up his big sister — a sport he took very seriously. Although his time was short, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy, bringing his quiet strength and unwavering loyalty wherever he went.

Our favorite memories are now treasures:

• Playing dress-up with his big sister (and fully committing to the role)

• Throwing rocks into the road with cousins — until the law was laid down on a grown man by one of his aunts (trust me, it’s a funny story)

• Stepping in front of a car to protect his little brother — because that’s just who he was

• Mooning kids on the playground in elementary school… because someone dared him and he never backed down from a challenge (or a good laugh)

• Sending flowers and little gifts to Mom, just because

• Cliff diving and beach day adventures with his dad, brother, and bonus family

• Covering himself in spaghetti as a kid — multiple times — for reasons known only to him

• Camping and exploring the outdoors with his grandparents, cousins and siblings

• Cracking a cold one with his uncles and friends

We’ll miss his smirky smile that hinted at a secret joke, his contagious laugh, his unforgettable hugs, those marathon conversations that always mattered more than we realized at the time, and the soft, steady love he showed in quiet ways. Austin had a gentleness about him that was rare — and a loyalty even rarer.

He was often misunderstood, but never unloved. He may have been a wallflower, but to us, he was the brightest part of the room. Our Austin was one of one.

He is survived by his mother (Heather Adkins), father (Terry Adkins), sister (Kathryn McKeever), brothers (Dallas Wren and Zander Adkins), grandparents (Tamie Wren, Lundy Wren, Mary Adkins, Blaine Boseman, Martha Kuzara), bonus parents (Carmen Johnson and Grant Wadkins) and several aunts, uncles, cousins, bonus parents and siblings, a niece and nephew.

He is preceded in death by his great grandparents (Clara Miller Byrd and Lowell Byrd), and uncle (Wayne Adkins).

To honor Austin’s memory, we ask that you do something kind for someone else — even if it’s small. Play a game of Monopoly or Phase 10, eat a weird combo of food you secretly love, or simply be there for someone like Austin always was for us.

Rest easy, sweet boy. You lived with love, laughed with your whole body, and left us with memories that will echo for the rest of our lives. You are deeply missed, endlessly loved, and forever ours.

Graveside services will be held Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 No. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah. Friends may visit family Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Rd., Layton, UT.