Jason Matthew Gross

April 27, 1972 - January 27, 2024

In Loving Memory ~

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the death of Jason Matthew Gross of Eholt on Jan. 27, 2024. He was 51.

Jason was born on April 27, 1972, in New York City to Eugenie and Jeffrey Gross. He was welcomed by his big brother, Todd Harris, his grandparents, Joe and Millie Gross, his uncle Barry Gross and numerous other relatives, as well as family friends.

Jason's fondest memories involved growing up outside the city in rural Westchester and Putnam counties. He loved romping in the woods and creek near his rustic home, spending time with his dad and brother, and caring for his family pets. Jason often visited his grandparents in Far Rockaway, Queens, on the Atlantic coast and enjoyed playing on the nearby beach.

After surviving childhood leukemia and following the loss of his dad to a brain tumor, Jason moved back to the city with his mom and attended the Walden School, where he pursued his love of music and art and made many lifelong friends. During this time, he was introduced to his favourite bands, including the Grateful Dead, attended many live concerts and became a huge fan of rock, blues, jazz, folk, country, reggae and world music.

Jason, who developed a famously encyclopedic knowledge of music, loved to play guitar and hang out with friends in Central Park or in their apartments, learning his favourite songs.

After graduating from high school, Jason headed west to Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, where he completed a Bachelor of Science in ethnobotany. During this time, he was taken in as family by his "West Coast mom," Susan Lamoreaux, with her son, Paul, and made many other close friends. He spent some time in Tonasket, WA, where he was taught how to make brain-tanned buckskin and learned other traditional skills.

In the mid-'90s, Jason followed a childhood dream to move to Alaska. He settled in Juneau and worked in a variety of jobs, including commercial fishing, construction, sea and river guiding, and ski instruction.

He loved ocean kayaking, fishing for salmon, mountaineering, skiing, hunting, playing music and spending as much time as possible with his friends in nature. In 2001, he met his future wife, Malayna, and introduced her to his life in the north. Before he left Southeast Alaska, he adopted his first Alaskan Malamute puppy, Atlin, who became the original member of his dog sled team.

Following their marriage in 2002, Jason and Malayna moved to Revelstoke, BC, where they built a house on Mt. Begbie Road. Jason developed a passion for rock work and helped finish their home with beautiful creekstone details.

He volunteered for ski patrol and enjoyed getting out on the trails on a dog sled or skis. Jason was proud to become a Canadian citizen during these years and watched "Strange Brew" more than once to better understand his adopted country. He loved to laugh, and especially enjoyed a good joke, a funny memory or a humorous movie.

In 2007, the couple returned to Malayna's hometown of Grand Forks to be closer to family. They welcomed their son, Kluane, in 2009 while living in a yurt, and in 2011 moved to Eholt, where they built another house and settled into their mountain neighbourhood. Jason continued to live life to the fullest while battling cancer.

He was well known for his love of music, a good cup of coffee, chocolate, laughter, expertly chopped firewood, driving his silver Toyota pickup, being a handler in the 2015 Yukon Quest dog sled race, jamming in his studio or at an open mic, keeping in touch with friends and family, and caring for his now-departed Malamutes, Atlin, Ruby and Ripple, the family Chihuahua, Teddy, their much-adored cat, Cassidy, and his chickens.

His favourite pastimes also included fishing and kayaking with Kluane on Wilgress Lake and painting.

Jason is survived by his wife, Malayna, son, Kluane, uncle Barry Gross, brother Todd Harris (Amy Powers), in-laws, Penny and John Vere, brother-in-law, Jesse Vere, nephews and niece, Jasper, Cole and Aiden, and his mother's beloved, Arthur.

Jason passed away at Kelowna General Hospital surrounded by family and friends as they played and sang his favourite songs, as well as the caring KGH staff.

We would like to thank Dr. Michael Slatnik and Dr. Sujaatha Narayanan, as well as Boundary Hospital, BC Cancer, the Bone Marrow Transplant program at VGH, and numerous medical professionals who supported Jason over the years.

Thank you, too, to Grand Forks Funeral Home for making arrangements. Any donations can be made to the Grand Forks Food Bank on Jason's behalf.

A Celebration of Life will be held on April 27, 2024, at 1 pm at the Christina Lake Hall.