Amherst, Joseph Wild Pearson, 19, of Amherst, passed away unexpectedly on the evening of December 10. The sudden nature of his passing has left his family and friends largely in shock, but he is already very much missed by those who knew and loved him.

Joey’s enthusiasm for the outdoors and farming started early in life at his family’s farm in Shutesbury, and these proclivities as well as his exuberant personality were further nurtured at the Hartsbrook School, where he made many friends among the students and staff. Always an outgoing, active person, Joey continued his childhood enthusiasm for sports–especially hockey and lacrosse–at Amherst Regional High School.

In the year following his high school graduation, Joey did challenging, active work consisting of farming, tree-cutting, construction, and making hay. Although his career was cut short unexpectedly, Joey’s year working and supporting himself was an accomplishment of which he might have been justly proud.

Joey’s hay-making talent was both literal and metaphorical: his family and friends greatly admired his consistent orientation toward positivity and fun. From an early age, he loved skiing, surfing, and fishing. Later, he added four-wheeling and pick-up trucks. In short, throughout his life, he demonstrated a rare and special gift for masterminding unique feats of derring-do for himself and his friends. Something of a prodigy in this area, as early as the second grade, he leaped out of the second floor of his family’s home onto a strategically placed trampoline. He will be remembered as smiling, making us laugh, and always dreaming up new hijinks.

Joey leaves behind his mother, Wendy Pearson, father, Sandon Pearson, and his sisters, Sienna, Stephanie, and Sophie Pearson. Joey’s friends were also very important to him and to his family, who are especially grateful for the lifelong friendship he had with Stevie Vanjura and the years of fun he had with Jackson Gale. In addition, although he was fortunate to have had many, many more friends, his true love was his girlfriend, Jillian Duca.

A memorial service will be held at Hadley Farms Meeting House on Saturday, December 17 at 11:00am.