Jason Bradfish

Jason Bradfish, 49

Jason Fredrick Bradfish, LCSW, resident of Post Falls, was born in Spokane to Edgar Don Bradfish and Sharon (Evans) Storey on April 27, 1972. He died by suicide on June 10, 2021.

Jason graduated from Mead High School. He received his Associate’s Degree from Spokane Community College, and Bachelor of Business Administration and Masters of Social Work degrees from Eastern Washington University. He later opened a mental health counseling business in Post Falls. He was a Designated Examiner for the State of Idaho Department of Health & Welfare, and served as an expert witness for the state in court cases involving suicidal individuals. His life’s work revolved around helping people finding alternatives to suicidal behavior, and he was very successful in this duty.

Jason suffered from depression for over 10 years. He had been in treatment for this illness for many years. Depression doesn’t discriminate. It can attack anyone from young to old, rich or poor, man, woman or child…it even attacks the people who work to help others who have it. Millions of people suffer from mental conditions every year, and there is help. Jason would not want anyone to follow the same path he did.

His suicide was his choice, and his alone. He left no signs, at least until the morning of his suicide when he left a number of notes…and by the time anyone found any of them, he was already dead. Nothing anyone could have done would have kept him from carrying out his own death. No one who knew Jason should think to themselves, “if there was only something we could have done…” Because you couldn’t have. None of us could have.

Friends and family of a suicide victim should know that there’s nothing wrong you can say to a member of the suicide victim’s immediate family. Please don’t say to them, “I don’t know what to say.” Say anything. Words don’t matter. Support does. Survivors want to hear all about their loved ones, both the good and the bad.

Jason enjoyed camping with his friends, the outdoors, and watching the Seahawks.

He is predeceased by his father; a sister who died right after her birth; his maternal grandmother Hazel Evans; his sister-in-law Beth Bradfish; uncle Wayne Shimmons; and maternal uncles Don and Jerry Evans.

He is survived by his mother, Sharon Storey; his stepfather, Roger Storey; his wife, Sara Bradfish; his daughter, Sydney McPherson; his brothers and sisters Scott Bradfish (two sons, Tom and Matt); Carrie Moore (children are Josh and Jessica Moore, and Samantha Graham (husband Jamie Graham)); David Bradfish (wife is Leah, daughters are Emily, Jordyn and Jenna Bradfish); aunt and uncle Shirley and Dan Manship; aunt Kristien Brady; uncle Ernie Evans; aunt Diana Bradfish-Shimmons; cousins Michael, Jeff and Steven Shimmons; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

In his suicide note, he requested that if a GoFundMe account was established, the funds collected, after paying his end-of-life expenses, be distributed to an “agency that brings emancipation type programs for youths that come from broken homes to the area.” You can donate at https://gofund.me/d4585909.

A memorial service will be held at Real Life Ministries, Building 1, 1860 N. Cecil Road, Post Falls, on Saturday, June 26, at 11 a.m. A meal will be offered after the service. Anyone who knew Jason is welcome to attend.

Suicide is preventable. If you feel that you may harm yourself, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Visit them at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) National Hotline can be reached at 1-800-950-6264. Visit them at www.nami.org. The Coeur d’Alene NAMI chapter can be emailed at namicda@gmail.com. The Northern Idaho Crisis Center can be reached 24/7at 208-625-4884. Their walk-in clinic is located at 2195 Ironwood Court, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

His wife and daughter wish to share a paragraph from his suicide note.

“Now rejoice, dance, drink beer, tell funny stories about me, tell serious stories about me if that helps you feel better, tell some dirty jokes, be good to one another, hug your kids, hug your parents, hug your friends. Carry me with you with a smile on your face. Carry my love for you with you, because I assure you, it is there.”