Our daughter, Josephine Elise Byron, was born to us on September 12, 1995, in Gunnison and from the moment she arrived, she had two fists in the air.
Josie fulfills our life every day. So many things about Josie fill our hearts. Josie gives us so many reasons to love her. She’s usually up for anything, especially if it involves skiing, horses, silliness, laughing, cooking, randomness or cats. Josie is our daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, aunt, friend, co-worker, She is the daughter of this Crested Butte Community.
Josie was a great skier and did it all: Alpine racing, skier cross, big mountain. She waits patiently for her parents at the bottom of a run and could stay right on Cole’s heels. Josie is always my first choice for a ski partner, even when she laughs hysterically watching me crash at the bottom of Sock It To Me on the North Face. She always laughs at herself: who else puts “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” for the music of a video of her eating shit off the biggest rock on Headwall during a ski comp? Josie rips! Ride a horse? Hang on, cowgirl! She rides the bitchiest mare we’ve ever had and won’t tolerate any pinhead behavior. She saddles her own horse and always packs the best snacks for a mid-ride picnic in the sun. First choice for a riding partner! Josie has an especially soft spot for our four-legged friends, especially cats. She adopted a 12 year-old tabby named Murphy so the cat could have the best last years of his life. The two are practically inseparable. It was a natural fit when she went to work with CB Animal Hospital and Rocky Mountain Vet Clinic. She’s seen it all and stays calm to provide care and comfort to any animal (except for the occasional live mouse Murphy brings inside). Josie greets everyone warmly, often with a hug, and exudes a welcoming kindness. She knows how to make your drink before you even sit down at her bar at the Gourmet Noodle. Minutes later, she’ll have you laughing. Her uncanny sense of humor is like no other. She is witty beyond compare, quick with one-liners, dry, sarcastic, truthful and usually spot on. She doesn’t mind giving you a few seconds to try to understand what she’s saying and will wait for your chuckle. Her uncommon way of seeing things is refreshing and hilarious! Josie doesn’t want you to know but she sings like a rockstar and can dance like Michael Jackson. She is wickedly smart and Josie expects the best from everyone. She is fiercely independent, humble, often stubborn and mostly kind. Josie is loved.
She is all of us everyday – smiling, struggling, hurting, helping, caring, coping, afraid, fearless, laughing and loving.
Josie was scared. Josie was tired of fighting. Fighting everyday with herself and the monsters she was running from. Josie didn’t want anyone to see how she struggled and suffered and suffocated under depression and mental health. Josie was exhausted and broken. The hurt hurts almost as much coming out as it did going in. No parent wants to watch their child wretched in pain and would do anything to ease their suffering. Josie’s pain is now ours to do something with. Be patient and kind to yourself and others. Be present.
Don’t just hear. Listen.
Don’t just look. See.
Don’t just wonder. Ask.
Don’t say later. Do it now.
We all think we’ve got the time, until we don’t. Josie’s death gives us an opportunity and a responsibility. We are all up to the challenge of taking care of one another, patiently and without judgement. Mental Health Matters. You matter. Josie matters.
Josie wishes that if you care to make a donation in her honor to please do so at Paradise Animal Welfare Society in Crested Butte. Her family would also suggest CB State of Mind.
There will be a celebration of Josie’s life on Saturday, May 30, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Big Mine Ice Arena in Crested Butte. Please join us.
