Obituary of Jason William Honaker

Jason William Honaker was a brilliant and charismatic soul whose life was tragically cut short on June 17, 2018.   He is survived by his mother, Susan, father, Bruce, sister, Nicole and brother, Adam.

As a child, Jason was always very active, social, and outgoing. He loved playing football and baseball and progressed to roller blading and skateboarding in his teenage years. He fell in love with music at an early age. In 7th grade, he performed in the talent show, playing Nirvana's "Come As You Are" on electric guitar with his best friend, Aaron. Jason brought his extroverted personality into his high school years, with a very involved social life while excelling academically.  

In his early adulthood, Jason lived in many places throughout the Bay Area but one thing was constant—he was always the life of the party and magnetically energetic. His ability to draw in endless amounts of friends with his charm and charisma was truly magical.

He ultimately found his way to San Francisco and began a career in sales and advertising. As with many other aspects of his life, Jason excelled in his new career, winning trips and enjoying the perks of free concert tickets. He was intellectual and creative, passionate about art, literature, comedy and live music.

San Francisco was also where Jason's struggles with his addiction began. His early success was upended by his problems that would dictate the rest of his life in the Bay Area. He made many attempts to get clean and sober there, but nothing lasted until he moved to Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, his life turned around. While gaining a solid foothold in his own recovery, he immediately began helping others with their own journeys, working professionally in a sober living environment. As with his other professions coupled with his sincerely considerate spirit, he did very well, and was soon managing the facility, with an eye on making a career of helping others.  

In his last two years, he truly lived. He really began to enjoy all the life he had been missing out on. From running and skateboarding, to concerts and collecting records, playing guitar and travelling, he reunited with his old favorite activities. He loved having a social cigar with friends. Most importantly, he was able to rebuild the relationships he cared so deeply about, begin new ones and found deep love. He lived his best life and was fully thriving during these last two years: full of gratitude, proud of every accomplishment in daily life, and simply stoked on living.

Jason's sudden death was an unexpected shock for everyone that knew him. He fought a fierce and dedicated battle for his recovery and happiness.  He wanted to live, love and thrive. Addiction is a serious disease. It strikes quickly and suddenly, and leaves the rest of us without answers to so many questions. What we do know is that Jason's life was cut short, like so many others walking his path, but addiction did not define him.  

Jason’s positive impact on the people he met was wide and profound. His laughter and smile were contagious. He had the ability to make a stranger instantly feel like they had known him for years. He was active in the recovery community and left behind a legacy of helping others struggling with the disease to find their way.  We ask that each of us carry the brightness and joy we felt from him with us in our own lives.