Josiah David Meadows, 33, of Yakima, Washington, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, due to a tragic fatal car accident in Panama City, Florida. His absence will be deeply felt by all those who knew and loved him.
Josiah was born on February 22, 1992, in Yakima to his mother and father, Brenda and Gary Meadows, and his older brother, Joshua. When he was 5, he became an older brother to his baby sister Shaddia. From thereafter, these three had a close bond, growing and doing life together in the Yakima Valley. At the age of age of 13, his stepfather Gary Choate came into his life and added enrichment during his developing years.
He was a serious and cautious little boy, who loved to play outside with his siblings. These activities included cowboys and robbers, baseball, and lawn mower sled rides. He built a love of sports growing up, watching his older cousins and brother, and began playing T-ball and baseball as a child. Josiah enjoyed family trips to the beach and camping outdoors. As he grew older, his love of the outdoors continued and transitioned into many fishing and hunting trips with his Grandpa Danny, father, brother, uncles, and cousins. During these early years, attending his grandparents church, he was baptized in Jesus’ name, and began his lifelong journey of faith and trust in the Lord.
Josiah attended Naches High School where he graduated with academic honors in 2011. He was a dedicated student and strived for excellence in his schoolwork. He continued to play baseball through his sophomore year of high school and then decided to pick up track and field his senior year, throwing discus and shotput. The sport he truly enjoyed football as an offensive lineman, which he played all throughout junior high and high school. This would lead to a scholarship to play for Eastern Oregon University.
After graduating high school, he decided to join the workforce and began a successful career at Costco. He thrived in any position he was placed in and enjoyed connecting with customers in need. He truly had a servant heart. While working at Costco, he attended YVCC where he received his AA. From there he transferred to Christian Life Bible College in Stockton, CA, continuing his higher education. At CLC, he was the student body president his senior year and received his BA in theology, graduating in 2017. He is quoted in his senior yearbook as saying, “The biggest lesson I learned was that anything is possible with a true hunger for Him.” These formative years in Bible school, deepened his relationship with God as well as solidified his desire to be involved and used in ministry. He received his ministerial license with the United Pentecostal Church. He ministered in numerous churches throughout California, Texas, and Washington furthering the Gospel. In 2017 he fulfilled a dream of visiting Israel with his friends from college where he traveled, visited Biblically historic landmarks, and preached on Mt. Carmel.
After returning home from Bible College, Josiah was the assistant pastor for a time to his uncle, Steven Smith, at Christ Connection in Yakima, which was the church his grandparents, Wanda and Daniel Leslie had founded. At Christ Connection, he was dedicated to the ministry in every way. He preached sermons, gave Bible studies, baptized people, played the drums, furthered the media ministry, and worked on many church renovations and updates. His servant heart made him eager to be used by the Lord in any way. He sincerely dedicated himself into pouring the love of Jesus into others.
During the pandemic in 2020, Josiah began pursuing a career in construction which led to him establishing his own business, JM Home Improvements. His slogan was “Homes built with integrity.” It was his dream to own his own construction company following in the footsteps of his entrepreneurial grandfathers.
When we remember Josiah, we will think of a man of compassion, purpose, and loyalty. He strived for excellence in every aspect of his life. Josiah dearly loved his family and took his role as son, brother, uncle, cousin, and nephew very seriously. He was truly one of the great individuals who rarely happen along in life. Josiah will always be remembered as a thoughtful and kind soul to every person who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Josiah David Meadows is survived by his mother and step father, Brenda and Gary Choate; his father and wife, Gary and Pamela Meadows; his brother, Joshua (Erica) Meadows; his sister, Shaddia (Deven) Marshall; his nephews, Jacob and Joey Meadows and Thomas Marshall; his aunts and uncles, Barbara (Roger) Campbell, Carol (Steven) Smith, Mike (Cindy) Meadows, Bruce (Mary) Meadows, Chris (Jeannie) Dahl; and numerous cousins and extended family. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Daniel and Wanda Leslie, Alice Dahl, Jack Meadows, uncle Michael Leslie (Judy Glass), and cousins Bradley Campbell and Ember Meadows.
Celebration of Life will be Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 10:00 am at Christ Connection Church located at 1118 McKinley Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902. His burial will follow at West Hills Cemetery beginning at 12:30 pm.
