Ashton Lee Smading was born June 8 ^th , 1993, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. From birth, he was energetic, inquisitive, resilient, engaging and fearless—at thirteen months, he was climbing higher into trees than his mother, Trudi, could reach! On the crowded hauptstraussen (streets) of Germany, he would alternate between the freedom of running storefront to storefront and the joy of riding high on the shoulders of his father, Robert. He shared a special bond with his sister Kelsey, akin to that of the twins people often mistook them for when he was three and she was half that. He and his sister Devan enjoyed online games together, and Ashton was always up for adventure.

Ashton's boldness often challenged us to reconsider our own comfort zones and fears. To say that he never met a stranger would be an understatement—at five, of his own initiative, he once went door-to-door selling homemade Mother's Day cards. Ashton's easygoing openness shined. If only we could all be so comfortable in our own skins.

Ashton was endearing, and driven, and occasionally loved reading. He was a skilled welder and tattoo artist. He enjoyed music, chess and poker. He had a loving family, and with the February 2019 birth of Liliana, he and his wife, Kara, had started their own.

On the morning of Sunday, March 29 ^th , 2020, Ashton lost his battle with drug addiction. In his fearless spirit—and in defiance of the social stigma assigned to the disease of addiction—we address Ashton's defeat.

Heartbreakingly, Ashton's most beautiful strengths provided a perfect environment for the addiction that would ultimately take him from us. And though it plagued him for years, it did not define him: throughout his struggle, Ashton's love, joy and tenderness persistently rose to the surface. This is the Ashton we memorialize.

Among those celebrating his memory are his wife, Kara Smading, and daughter, Liliana; his parents, Robert and Trudi Mendez; his sisters, Kelsey Daigre and Devan Mendez; his grandmothers, Frances Jackson and Grace Mendez; aunts and uncles Chuck Smading, Jacquie Mendez, Peter Mendez, Mike Jackson; cousins Jerica and Jacobe; and his nephew, Caleb. Ashton is preceded in death by his grandfathers Charles Lee Smading and Ronald Mendez.

To honor Ashton's perseverance and to support recovery and mental health in others, please consider donating to The Council on Recovery ( councilonrecovery.org ) or St. Joseph House ( stjosephhouse.org ).