Jared John Lofts
October 23, 1984 ~ November 12, 2001
Resided in:
Arden, NC
A native of Kinston, NC, he was the son of Ronald and Marcia Hirshey Lofts.
Jared was a Junior at T.C. Roberson High School, where he was a member of the Varsity Men’s Soccer Team. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and held the office of Priest in the church. He was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Highland Football Club.
In addition to his parents, Jared is survived by four sisters, Alecia Lofts of Black Mountain, Sarah Kouchalakos of Asheville, Sabrina James and Heather James of the home; his maternal grandfather, John Hirshey of Marcellus, Michigan; his maternal grandmother, Mary Hirshey of Three Rivers, Michigan; his paternal step-grandfather, C. W. Miller of Delray Beach, Florida and his niece and nephew, Britney and Alex Kouchalakos.
Funeral services will be held at 4 pm Friday in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Sweeten Creek Road. Burial will be in Marcellus, Michigan on Monday.
Jared’s family will receive friends from 7 until 8:30 pm Thursday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals.
Memorials may be made to the Ram’s Club of T.C. Roberson High School, 250 Overlook Road, Asheville, NC 28803.
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Jared, I love you. Jared’s parents, I’m truely sorry for your lost. Just remember that Jared will ALWAYS be in my thoughts and prayers!
To Mr. and Mrs. Lofts:
I didnt really get an opportunity to tell you who jared was to me tonight. I know you dont know me, but I know quite a bit of you from what Jared said. I just met Jared three month ago. He would always make fun of my braces. He’d say ‘What’s that you’ve got in your teeth there ashley?’ after every meal, and then id be like ‘Do i have food in my teeth?’ and he’d smile and say, ‘Oh, i forgot, it’s your braces!’ He got me every single time. And I called him mickey, because of the way his voice would crack sometimes when he got excited. More importantly, Jared was one of those kids who knew how to make someone feel better. Always. I went through a really trying point in my life during the first month of school, and every day he would hug me, make me feel better, try to help, make me smile. My friend Sarah and I would always fight over who got to sit by jared at lunch. There are many people who go from our lives, but they leave footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same. I love Jared dearly, and would like to return that same giving attitude he always had towards me by loving you. You are in my prayers
~~Ashley:)
Dear Marcia, Ron and Family,
I am so very sorry for your loss of Jarod. The pain you are each experiencing must be so profound. I hope that the powerful love you each have for each other and that from extended family and friends will provide you with comfort and support as you each learn how to live without you rbeloved Jarod in the coming days, weeks and months. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with each of you. Deborah
My thoughts and prayers are with you Marcia and your family during this very difficult time. We share your grief.
Jared was one of the most awesome guys I’ve ever met. He will deffinately be missed. We’ve had some really great times and the memory of Jared will forever live on in my heart… I love you Jared….God Bless
Jared-
You were a really great friend to me. We have shared so many memories. The eighth grade trip, long talks on the phone. You telling me all of your problems and so forth. When you moved to TC we didn’t keep in touch much except for when Owen played TC in the sporting events. I wish that we could have talked more and you could have told me a lot of your problems. I would have been there for you like no other, like you were there for me in middle school when I had all of my guy problems. I am just so sad that I have lost such a great friend. You ment the world to me. You were so sweet and caring, and I love you so much. I will always remember all of the times that we shared. You will never be forgotten in my heart. You were my best friend and I LOVE YOU!
Dearest Jared,
Dearest Jared,
Hey buddy, i knew you as such a great and funny friend! you meant a lot to me and to everyone!! i’ll miss seeing your smile and you!! but thanks for being such a great friend!! i love you and peace out…
love Always,
amanda and kim
Jared was a wonderful person and I loved him dearly
as a friend!! Whether he knew it or not, many people loved
him and are thankful for what he has done in thier lives.
I will remember and love him always.
Jared was a great guy. He will be missed. I remember everyday when he came into homeroom. He always had a smile on his face. My thoughts and prayers are w/his family.
Jared,
Even though I never meet you you will still be missed and LOVED by every one here WE LOVE YOU JARED!!!!!!
We can’t begin to know the pain you are feeling now. We just want to say how sorry we are for your loss. Our thought’s and prayer’s are with you.
Monty and Daniel
Dear Lofts Family,
Our deepest sympathy to you.Having taught Jared 8th Grade English/History, I got to know him well.He was one of my favorites!
Rachel and I will keep you in our prayers and thoughts.Tell Alecia, Sarah, Sabrina, and Heather we are thinking of them.
We love you
Jared was the first person I noticed on the first day of soccer tryouts of my junior year. I had never seen him before but somehow, he came right up to me and started a conversation. During that season, I got to know Jared really well, we would pair up a lot doing two person drills in practice and we would just talk about anything that came to mind. I was always amazed by the way he could always crack me up, whether he was chugging Red Bull and Tic-Tac’s or when we played darts in Pittsburgh and I think he hit the target a total of two times, but he threw the dart at about 100 miles per hour, typical Jared. I will never forget how everytime I would say something negative, he would come back with something twice as positive, like when I would see him in the hall and I’d say, ‘Hey Jared, how are you?’ and he would totally switch that on me and say, ‘No, how are you?!’ I cannot even begin to name the countless things Jared has said or done that have chaned my attitude in life. He had God-given talent, speed, and a way of making people feel genuinely good about themselves. I will never forget Jared and he and his family will forever be in my thoughts and prayers. He was a rare and special human being.
I never really got to know Jared personally, but I saw the way he acted at school. He was such a kind and caring person. He always had a smile on his face and wanted to make sure that you were happy too. He will be missed by many people, including me. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. We’ll miss you Jared, see you on the other side. God Bless
My husband and I are terribly saddened to hear about your sudden loss. We lost our 6 year old, Jessica on October 23rd in a car accident. May God’s grace give you and your family the strength and courage you need to make it through this difficult time. You are in thoughts and prayers. God bless you.
Jared,
I whent to the same school as you and i want you to know that the people here really do love you not only your cloest friends but the people you never meet we LOVE YOU JARED JOHN LOFTS ALWAYS. My prayers are with Jareds family!!
I never got to meet Jared personally, but I know that he was a great guy and I wish that I could have had to pleasure to meet him, he was a cutey and as far as I have heard he was the nicest guy in the world! Jared, even though I never knew you I just want you to know that I will miss and so will everyone else at TC, I hope to see you again in heaven. I LOVE YOU AND WILL ALWAYS MISS YOU!!
Jared, everyone misses so much! We all love you a lot! We will see you one day but until then… we keep you and your family in our prayers!
Jared~
I just wanted to let you know that I lost a great friend. We’ve known each other for a long time. You were such a great friend and next door neighbor. I’ll never forget anything we talked about on our long bus rides home from school. Just wanted to let you know that I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!
Jared~
You were a great guy and we are going to miss you so much.
We are gonna miss you Jared!!!
Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Lofts family. The memories of Jared we will forever cherish.(Dennis playing with him from Little League to the middle school baseball) Jared touched so many people through out his life. Jared you will be truly missed!!
Jared, you were a great friend and an awesome person, and i miss you a ton! you may be gone from this place but never from my heart and my memories! i love you!
May someday we meet again!
Love you always!!
whoa it’s been a whole month. Jared I can’t believe that I’m actually writing this. Gee sweetie I love u and I miss u so much. It’s so weird not to see u in the hall after 3rd and at lunch it was so weird I even look for u sometimes!!! You are one in a million and even though I couldn’t help u which is what really hurts. You’ve helped me…you’ve taught me to put others in front of myself to love everyone for who they are and not for what u want them to be. I wish I could talk to you and tell u how many people adore u, and I promise u are not forgotten. If u could only see the many people that have shown their love and the tears that were cried for u. It’d make u blush. lol You are a funny guy and I love u so much!!!!
Lauren
jared i miss you man u will always be in my memories i love you!!!
Jared-
I will always remember your outstanding personality that everyone loved about you! I will miss you tremendously!! But I will always remember you!! I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!!!
well tomorrow it will be a year and i just wanted to say i still miss you and love you always
I knew Jared all of my life he always had a smile on his face and was nice to me even though I was so much younger and so annoying. He was at my house the night before he died and I was working on a book report so I didn’t get to say hi to him even though I had a strong feeling that i should have now i regret not saying hi. We all love him and will miss him dearly.
Jared we miss and love you very much,i can still remember when you and Justin would play together, you will always be in our hearts, We Love You!!!!!!!!!
Ron, Marcia and family,
Our hearts are so full of love for all of you at this time of mourning. May our heavenly Father console you with his abiding love and may you find peace even in this terrible circumstance. We are currently visiting family in California, so we’ll be unable to be with you, but please know you are in our prayers. Much love, Ray and Joyce
My sons, Chris and Chase Barry have known Jarod for years, they played Little League baseball with him. Chase and Jarod were good friends all through school, both at Owen and TC. I am so sorry that Jarod is no longer with us. My deepest sympathies are with the family.
We will all miss you jared!! I can remember when we where in 7th grade you where my best friend not only where you my friend your where my boyfriend. You always knew how to cheer people up! I will never forget you! You will always be in my heart and thought!! I love you and will miss you!!!!
Our family would like to extend our sincerest sympathy for your family and son. Our son is a freshman at TCRoberson and is saddened by the death of your son. Our prayers will be with you.
Just wanted to say how very sorry we are for your loss. Jared was a special guy and will be missed. God bless your house with peace and love, The Spencer’s
We extend our deepest heartfelt sympathies. God is with you during this time.
We are Friends of Amberle Bryant and TCR supporters.
May God Bless you during this time.
My prayers go out to Jared’s family. I have known him since he was a baby and I am very saddened he is gone. I will miss him dearly. I extend my deepest sympathies. May God bless you.
I LOVE YOU JARED JOHN LOFTS!!! I will miss you dearly! I only have one regret, that I didnt tell you enough how much I loved you while you were here on earth! You and your family will be in my prayers and thoughts. and YOU will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have a place in my heart!! i love you jared!!!!and if you guys need anything just call me! Love ALWAYS, Julie Lee. I will NEVER forget you Jared!!! NEVER!!
Jerod and I went a long ways back. We both wrestle together and I still remember him in the early mornings being happy to be at practice. I will miss him very much. I give my deepest gratitude to the family. God Bless.
Dear Ron, Marcia, and Sarah
I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Jared was a nice young man, my thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief.
If there is anything I can do let me know!
John Rikard
I knew Jared from the TC Roberson soccer team, he was on varsity and I was on JV last year. Since he joined the team I looked up to him, he was the fastest and the best, and was one of the only players to accept me as part of the team. Though I didn’t know him very well, I considered him one of my friends and am very saddened by this tragedy. My deepest condolences go out to his family and to all of his close friends.
Jared I will never forget you. You put such an impact on my life for the short amount of time we knew eachother. You were always so sweet to me and I will miss you and never forget the smile you always had on your face. I love you and hope all your worries are at peace. To your family I send my deepest prayers. Jared you will always have a special place in my heart. God Bless
I didn’t really know him, but someone very important was Jared’s friend, and someone told me that he always looked for the good in people and believed in others when there was no one else to believe in them.
My deepest sympathy goes out to all of Jared’s friends and family. I pray that God will lead us all through this very difficult time.
Jared, I will miss you so much and will never forget you. You were always a good friend to me and had an impact on my life. My deepest sympathies go out to your family and may God be with you during this difficult time.
The world has lost a great person. Jarod will be missed by many. I send my love to his family and his many friends. May he rest in the best of peace. Love you buddy.
Jared was truly an amazing person. I will never forget him. I can still see him sliding on the field at Owen, and cracking jokes on the sidelines. The world lost a great person on the 12th. Jared will always hold a place in my thoughts and memories, as well as my heart and the hearts of his family and his numerous friends. Jared, I’ll NEVER forget you bud. May God give everyone the strength to deal with his loss.
Please know we love you all and may God help you through the loss of Jared.
God’s soccer team just got a lot better.
Our deepest condolences go out to all of the Lofts. We know first hand how thrilling it was have known Jared. We have lots of memories of Jared from baseball to school. We miss him dearly and are truly sadened to have lost him. We can only express our deepest sympathies to the Lofts. God bless and take care.
The Tolley’s
We extend our deepest sympathies to Jared’s family. Blake played baseball with Jared in the summer youth leagues in Black Mountain. We can still see Jared pitching that ball and swinging that bat! But even more, we remember the love and support his family always gave him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dear Lofts’
Our many thoughts and prayers are with you at this time and always.
We remember the days Jason and Jared played baseball and soccer.
Those memories will last forever. Our deepest sympathy goes to your
family.
Love to all!
I will never forget the good times Jared and I have had. He was a great friend and he will be very much missed. He will always be missed by myself.
My deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of Jared. My daughter only knew him for a brief time, but the grief she is feeling about the loss of her friend Jared will forever remain in her broken heart.
I will NEVER forget the great friend Jared was to me and everyone else! I will always keep a part of him with me! Jared and I have so many memories together that I will cherish forever!
Although I only met Jared my sophomore year (his freshman year), I felt like I had known him much longer. I remember once, when I was in a school production of Miracle on 34th Street, while I was on stage, Jared sat in the 3rd or 4th row, winking, blowing kisses, and making faces at me, trying to make me laugh. We have all lost a great person and a wonderful friend, and my deepest condolences go out to the Lofts. Jared, we love you. God bless.
Marsha and Family, Our thoughts and prayers
are with you now and in the days to come.
God Bless You!
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Always
cherish the good memories of Jared. I’m here
if you need me.
I can’t began to feel your pain, but I hurt for you.
God Bless You.
Dear Ron, Marcia, Sarah, all of Jared’s family, We are saddened by your loss. We know what a strong family you are and how strong your faith is, and we know you will be sustained and empowered to help others in the future. But now we think only of you and what sadness and loss you must feel. Jared was a beautiful person and he will live forever in the hearts of those to whom he brought love and good cheer. Please let us know if there is any way we can be of assistance to you. Love Carol and Jim
A big hug to your family during this difficult time. We all feel Jared’s loss with you. He showed kindness and respect to all and is certainly a son to be proud of. Garry remembers the scout camp outs Ron and Jared went on and all the help and support they both were. We will all cling to the wonderful memories Jared left. May God bless you and comfort you now.
Jarod,
I’ve known you every since I can remember. We used to be good friends and I remember when your sister played ball with me and you’d always come in thedougout and make fun of me. I will never forget you making me smile. You will be missed. I hope you rest in peace. God Bless
Jared was a good person and he will never be forgotten. even though he might not be here physically mentally a he lives with all of us!!!
even though we never talked all the time i grew up knowing him and just thinking that he isnt around anymore make me want to break down and cry!
i hope that no one will ever forget Jared and that he will live with you like he will with me for the rest of my life!! Jared was a great person
and knew ho tot make you happy and smile even if you were having the worst day of your life!!! Jared you will live on in my heart nad my memories of you!!
I hope you rest in peace and God Bless!!
We would like to extend our deepest sympathy for your family. Our prayers are with you.
We are friends of Alecia
God Bless!
Well we pretty much grew up together. I can still remember when you would play soccer and I would wear your hat, I was so proud because you were so good. I know as we grew up we kind of went our own seperate ways but I still thought highly of you and everything that you stood for. I always looked up to you, I had the biggest crush, but I always thought you were to good for me. I wish we could of talked because I know how you felt I went throught the same thing last year We could of helped each other.I hope one day I’ll be able to see you again, there’s so much I could say,things that I never got the chance to say before. I will always think about you, I’ll miss checking you out in sacrement meeting. I thought and still do think very highly of you Jared I LOVE YOU, and I’m sorry that I didnt see anything was wrong, I’ll always think that if you only would of gave me a chance I would of tried my best to help in any way. I know God knows how big your heart is, and I hope to see you on judgment day, I’ll be looking for you.I LOVE YOU JARED LOFTS!
i loved Jared like a bro we known each other sence we were 6 and 7 years old we played ball together and always hung out he was one of my best friends and i will really miss him and i love him and his family and i will be praying for them i love you jared and will miss you
Chase Barry
Our most sincere sympathy is sent to the Lofts family, their family and loved ones. Jared will always be remembered as a bright shining star, and he was always such a delightful young man to be around. I will always have memories of seeing him on the ballfields of Swannanoa Valley. Words cannot express the sorrow we all have in our hearts during this tragic time. You are remembered in our prayers.
My thoughts and prayers go with you and your family
I never really got to know Jared but I know he was very loved by all his peers. And I know that he will never be forgotten. I will continue to keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
DEAR RON,MARCIA AND GIRLS,
MY HEART IS BROKEN…I SHUT MY EYES AND SEE THE BROWN EYED, TOUSLED HEADED, FULL OF LIFE AND ENERGY, FULL OF QUESTIONS,(AND ANSWERS), BIG HUGS AND SMILES, 3 YEAR OLD JARED. HOW I LOVED HOLDING HIM! HOW I LOVED HOW HE MADE ME LAUGH!!
I WILL ALWAYS HOLD THOSE MEMORIES CLOSE TO MY HEART.
I CAN NOT BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHAT YOU ARE FEELING.
YOU HAVE OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY.
LOVE, DEBBIE, JASON, JUSTIN AND JEREMEY
Jared was always one of the first players I sought out when I covered Roberson soccer. He caught my eye before my very first game last year when he shaved his head, and we talked then and developed a friendship. He always spoke when he saw me, and was so cheerful and easygoing.
I am going to miss him so much, because I remember after the last Asheville-Roberson game thinking how much I couldn’t wait to see players like Jared, J.T., Matt, Joey and Todd next year. Now there will be a huge hole at right back.
Rest in peace, Mr. Clean…
My name is Dustin Dalton, I go to Enka High School and play for the varsity soccer team there. I played personally against Jared, and I have much respect for him. He was a great defender. I send my deepest condolences and wish nothing but the best for his family and friends. The world has lost a good soccer player and I’m sure a great person. On behalf of the Enka soccer program, I would like to send my deepest apologies. I couldn’t make it to the visitation, but I do send this memorial to the family of Jared. If there is something I can do, you have my e-mail. God bless and I give my thoughts and prayers to you, the family.
I’m sorry about the loss of your son. I know some what of the feeling from a brothers point of view. I watched what seemed to be like my older brother die in the hospital following a tragic car accident
With all my sympothy
Lee Morse
I graduated from Owen in 2001, and although I never spoke to Jared there, I saw him once after he had transferred to Roberson. I was on the way to Florida, and I stopped at this tiny restaurant in Georgia in the middle of nowhere. After staring at each other for a while, we finally figured out how we knew each other and went outside to talk. He said he was on the way to a soccer camp in Charleston and seemed pretty excited about it. He was so cute and funny and it seemed strange that we’d never spoken before. That was the only time we ever got to talk, and I never saw him again after that. I was in school when I heard about his death, and even though I didn’t know him, I cried like I had lost someone close to me. I was in his place once and I know how he must have felt. I’m so sorry–All my love, Athena.
My heart goes out to you. Jared was one of the greatest guys I have known.I played soccer with him for three years and I feel very priveleged to have known him. In seventh grade I will always remember spending the whole day with him at field day and he taught me how to tie a tie. I will keep you in my prayers and I hope that this will just make you stronger people.
Love,
Jessica Hagaman
Dear Lofts,
my thoughts and prayers go out to you all. Jared was a great guy and everyone who met him loved him dearley, as I did. He will be missed by many. My sympathy goes to you all.