Jonathan Barry Rich

Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at Collier-Butler Chapel for Jonathan Barry “Jon” Rich, 37, Southside, AL who died Thursday-August 27, 2010. Revs. Scott Harris and Mike Jackson will officiate. Cremation Services will be provided by Collier-Butler Funeral Home.

Jonathan Barry “Jon” Rich, was born near the beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, on November 13, 1972 and died on August 26, 2010 near the beach in Orange Beach, Alabama. Jon was, by trade, a skilled electrician, working for ISC Corp, BE & K, and numerous other companies in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama during his career. Jon’s zeal for life led him, at an early age, to skip school to climb mountains, explore caves, and ride on the back of Whale Sharks. Later in his life in his scuba diving class he was the anchor person, responsible for watching over the divers. Then, he learned how to sit quietly on the ocean floor and photograph the smallest marine life. He was a proud graduate of Southside High School and even prouder that he introduced his brother to his future wife.

Jon’s greatest gift, besides his two children, was his ability to see another person’s needs, and to meet those needs without being asked. He was known to sell his own possessions at times to provide for others. He was always surrounded by so many friends. His love of people led him to volunteer at the Southside Fire Department for many years and his paramedic training made it impossible for him to ever think of not stopping at the scene of an accident to give aid. Jon was in the process of training to become a certified scuba diving instructor.

Jon is survived by his two sons, Austin Barry Rich, and Matthew Alexander Rich, his parents, Barry and Jane Rich, brother and sister-in-law, Jason and Nena Rich, niece, Carrie Rich, nephew, Chandler Rich, grandparents, Grace H. Andrews, and Jack and Marie Rich, aunt, Gloria Griggs, uncle, Gary (Julie) Rich, and a large family of loved ones and friends.

Pallbearers will be family and friends.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Austin Rich and Matthew Rich

The family requests that memorials be made to Southside Baptist Church Building Fund, 3975 Highway 77, Southside, AL 35907.

Jon’s family will accept friends Monday evening from 6- 8p.m. at Collier-Butler Funeral Home.