Family, friends and co-workers say Jason Ervin was a larger-than-life man with a deep devotion to God and his family.
“Jason didn’t have a career; he had a calling,” said Kenny Qualls, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Arnold. “He was such a loving, fun individual.”
Mr. Ervin died July 16 at age 44 after suffering a heart attack. He was a longtime youth pastor and current Next Generation pastor at First Baptist.
“He was really good at building relationships with people. He always made them feel special and like they were a part of something bigger,” said his wife, Kelly, also 44. “Everybody wanted to be around him. Everybody has a ‘Jason story,’ even if they only knew him a short time.”
Mr. Ervin grew up in Arnold, the youngest of three brothers whose parents were active members at FBCA. Their home and its backyard pool was a hub for activities.
“They had a lot of youth events and gatherings there. It was the neighborhood hangout,” Kelly said.
The family socialized with a wide circle of friends and enjoyed boating, especially at Kentucky Lake.
Kelly and Jason met at Fox High School when both were 15.
“He was just so funny. You could say anything to him and he instantly had a comeback – didn’t have to even think about it,” Kelly said. “I always joked that if he stopped working at the church, he should be a comedian.”
While still in high school, Mr. Ervin started a lawn care business that he ran until 2005.
After graduation, he and Kelly attended Jefferson College.
“I got my bachelor’s degree there through Southeast Missouri State,” she said. “He started with the intent to get a business degree. But he started working at the church, and he just never finished.”
The two were married in 2000 and had four children in five years. Mr. Ervin maintained his lawn care business while working at the church.
“The youth pastor hired him as sort of an intern,” Kelly said. “He didn’t get paid much. Then, when that guy moved away, Jason filled in until they could hire someone new.”
The new youth pastor only stayed a brief time, with Mr. Ervin serving as his assistant before moving up to become full-time youth pastor in the spring of 2005.
Kelly said her husband was energetic and enthusiastic about his job.
“He was really creative, always had ideas,” she said. “He took mission trips to Colorado, Tennessee, Idaho. He’d go on trips to Mexico to build houses. They did camps.”
Kelly said her husband was always willing to help others.
“Our house was an open door. A parent would call, a student would call, and Jason would go at the drop of a hat. No questions asked, he’d give whatever resources he had,” she said. “Our family would go along to help clean up a yard, help someone move, help with car troubles, put up Christmas lights. It wasn’t a burden; it was a joy. He didn’t judge anyone, never looked down on them. God gave him the wisdom to share and guide.”
Qualls said both the Ervins and their children opened their home and their hearts to others.
“Jason led a very balanced life; he could serve because Kelly and the kids were right there along with him. His wasn’t just a message of the importance of family but a model for it.”
In mid-July, the family took an impromptu trip to Kentucky Lake.
“We had a wonderful time tubing, skiing, playing on the sand, playing Wiffle ball and football,” Kelly said
She said her husband complained of not feeling well but seemed better once they returned home.
The next morning, though, his symptoms worsened, and they ended up in the emergency room at St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, where Mr. Ervin was diagnosed with arterial blockage. Doctors took him for an emergency procedure to install a stent.
“I knew they were hurrying, but at no point did it feel like he wasn’t going to make it,” Kelly said. “They said it could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and I thought I’d wait until he got back to let everybody know what was going on.”
When she heard an intercom call for “Code Blue in the cardiac lab,” Kelly said her heart sank.
“They got the first stent in – he had 90 percent blockage – and they went to do the other and he just passed away,” she said. “It was a heart attack.”
There was confusion and sorrow as word of his passing swept swiftly through the community, but Kelly said faith and friends sustained the family.
“Even through all the tragedy, there was so much love and support,” she said. “We know he’s in heaven. I know that through the loss of Jason there will be people who come to know Christ. What more fitting tribute to him and the way he lived his life?
“Selfishly, I want him here, but if it helps people, that will be a blessing.”
Qualls said Mr. Ervin will be remembered as a man who lived his faith.
“He led not by saying, ‘This is what you ought to do,’ but rather, ‘Take my hand and let’s take this journey together,’” he said. “He loved Jesus, loved Kelly and their four children, dedicated his life to serving others.
“The impact he had on this church and community is immeasurable.”
“Life Story,” posted Saturdays on Leader Publications’ website, focuses on one individual’s impact on his or her community.
hangout,” Kelly said.
The family socialized with a wide circle of friends and enjoyed boating, especially at Kentucky Lake.
Kelly and Jason met at Fox High School when both were 15.
“He was just so funny. You could say anything to him and he instantly had a comeback – didn’t have to even think about it,” Kelly said. “I always joked that if he stopped working at the church, he should be a comedian.”
While still in high school, Mr. Ervin started a lawn care business that he ran until 2005.
After graduation, he and Kelly attended Jefferson College.
“I got my bachelor’s degree there through Southeast Missouri State,” she said. “He started with the intent to get a business degree. But he started working at the church, and he just never finished.”
The two were married in 2000 and had four children in five years. Mr. Ervin maintained his lawn care business while working at the church.
“The youth pastor hired him as sort of an intern,” Kelly said. “He didn’t get paid much. Then, when that guy moved away, Jason filled in until they could hire someone new.”
The new youth pastor only stayed a brief time, with Mr. Ervin serving as his assistant before moving up to become full-time youth pastor in the spring of 2005.
Kelly said her husband was energetic and enthusiastic about his job.
“He was really creative, always had ideas,” she said. “He took mission trips to Colorado, Tennessee, Idaho. He’d go on trips to Mexico to build houses. They did camps.”
Kelly said her husband was always willing to help others.
“Our house was an open door. A parent would call, a student would call, and Jason would go at the drop of a hat. No questions asked, he’d give whatever resources he had,” she said. “Our family would go along to help clean up a yard, help someone move, help with car troubles, put up Christmas lights. It wasn’t a burden; it was a joy. He didn’t judge anyone, never looked down on them. God gave him the wisdom to share and guide.”
Qualls said both the Ervins and their children opened their home and their hearts to others.
“Jason led a very balanced life; he could serve because Kelly and the kids were right there along with him. His wasn’t just a message of the importance of family but a model for it.”
In mid-July, the family took an impromptu trip to Kentucky Lake.
“We had a wonderful time tubing, skiing, playing on the sand, playing Wiffle ball and football,” Kelly said
She said her husband complained of not feeling well but seemed better once they returned home.
The next morning, though, his symptoms worsened, and they ended up in the emergency room at St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, where Mr. Ervin was diagnosed with arterial blockage. Doctors took him for an emergency procedure to install a stent.
“I knew they were hurrying, but at no point did it feel like he wasn’t going to make it,” Kelly said. “They said it could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and I thought I’d wait until he got back to let everybody know what was going on.”
When she heard an intercom call for “Code Blue in the cardiac lab,” Kelly said her heart sank.
“They got the first stent in – he had 90 percent blockage – and they went to do the other and he just passed away,” she said. “It was a heart attack.”
There was confusion and sorrow as word of his passing swept swiftly through the community, but Kelly said faith and friends sustained the family.
“Even through all the tragedy, there was so much love and support,” she said. “We know he’s in heaven. I know that through the loss of Jason there will be people who come to know Christ. What more fitting tribute to him and the way he lived his life?
“Selfishly, I want him here, but if it helps people, that will be a blessing.”
Qualls said Mr. Ervin will be remembered as a man who lived his faith.
“He led not by saying, ‘This is what you ought to do,’ but rather, ‘Take my hand and let’s take this journey together,’” he said. “He loved Jesus, loved Kelly and their four children, dedicated his life to serving others.
“The impact he had on this church and community is immeasurable.”
“Life Story,” posted Saturdays on Leader Publications’ website, focuses on one individual’s impact on his or her community.