At his grandfather's house, there once was a boy who loved "just runnin' around," loved “digging for treasure and gold.”  At McDonald's, fearlessly front flipped into the balls.
 
At my apartment in North Carolina, Aaron rescued a frog from the pool's near chlorine death, nursing it back, giving fresh water to bathe in a bowl.  He named his new friend, Jeremy.  When he gave Jeremy freedom to live, releasing him back into the wild of a bog garden, Aaron sobbed with tears, heartbroken to not have his friend.
 
Aaron's sweet heart was open to the supernatural too.  In his bedroom at ten years-old on Irene Ave, he was visited by a threatening woman in white, a ghost.  For a while, he heeded her warning not to tell anyone but distressed he needed my confidence.  She floated across his bedroom floor and harshly spoke to him, demanding the family leave.  I listened with an open heart.

Aaron loved shooting hoops with his brother on his grandfather's backyard goal and in Wallace Memorial Baptist church's competitive basketball program, with Upward Reach jerseys.  Unlike his brother, who loved dribbling, penetrating the defense making layups, Aaron would dribble to half-court and shoot.  Amazingly, he made some.  He was so happy!

We had adventures, one began with a question while I drove.  Gazing at the skyline of the Great Smoky Mountains, I asked the brothers, “what do you think about hiking?”  Aaron piped up, “I want to go to Mount Le Conte!”  Normally, Aaron was not drawn to hiking.  Seizing this opportunity, I bought a backpack and refreshments.  The grinding five miles up Alum Cave trail at first brought complaints from the boys, switchback followed by yet another, but steep drop offs, a 1000 feet to the canyon floor, reinvigorated enthusiasm, feet rushing to the mountain top.  Alas, at the summit, cloud cover cloaked in white, a panorama not to be seen, but great joy was found exploring the mountain lodges, eating, and drinking from the mountain's cool spring water.

Thoughts and prayers to all his family and friends he will surely be missed
  


Jimmy Thomas

Several years ago, I met Dr. Sharon Patton with Aaron introducing her, in her office at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.  For him, this was a precious reunion with a mentor.  As a young teenager, he had the good fortune of being a member of a summer youth work program at the college.  During this time, I had the great pleasure of being tutored by him, learning the difference between autopsies and necropsies, the latter of which he boasted of eating and watching without discomfort.  One day in his bedroom, Aaron donned with clear-plastic gloves and baggies in hand, I became intrigued, asking what he was doing.  “Collecting specimens,” he said.  Specimens?  He was going to determine at the lab if the excrement of his snake, bird, and cat had any parasites, later, determining they did not.  His enthusiasm and desire were amazing.  

His love for animals was beautiful, rescuing a ball of fur, named Lucky, when he worked at an animal shelter in Maryville, TN.  Lucky would much later in life become my dear companion.  Aaron knew, like I did, her unconditional love and boundless joy for life.  

Tragically, this beautiful boy with veterinarian aspirations never achieved his dream.  I love you Aaron.

I love u so much and I'm still with u 4 life

Aaron I love you !!! Aunt Kim !!! Heart n Soul n Always n Forever !!! 

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Aaron Edward Templeton

10 julio, 1986 – 10 mayo, 2019

Berry Highland West

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Aaron Edward Templeton

10 julio, 1986 – 10 mayo, 2019

Berry Highland West

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