Jason Austin Carrico

Jason Austin “Jake” Carrico was born May 19, 1970, in West Plains, Missouri, to Bill and Pat Carrico. An avid outdoorsman and equestrian, he spent much of his childhood exploring the history and the woods of the Ozarks, whether it was through hunting, fishing, riding, or his avid studies of history.

After graduating from West Plains High School in 1988, he attended Virginia Military Institute, where he received his commission in the Army in 1992. A year later, on August 21, 1993, he would marry Stacie Taylor, his high school love.

Jake’s twenty-six-year career in the military took him across the globe, from Korea to Saudi Arabia. He retired in 2018, giving him time to pursue his passions. He participated in the Master Naturalist program and found work as a dog and cat sitter. Always passionate about nature, those who knew Jake heard him speak highly of Creation. He was one to share his knowledge and passion for any who asked, and he fostered that passion in others. He will be fondly remembered for that by all who knew him.

Jake passed away on February 22, 2026. He is survived by his wife, Stacie, and daughter, Taylor, both of Harker Heights; his parents, Bill and Pat, both of West Plains, MO; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.