In Memory of Makaili James Evans (Age 13)

Our Loving Cowboy Community,

 

On November 5th, 2021, our community lost a young bright light, Makaili James Evans. His family, those who went to school with him, and the town as a whole were all in a collective shock. As a 13-year-old boy your future thoughts are anything but what faced young Makaili, that brisk Wyoming morning. This is when we step up and live the “Cowboy Strong” motto. When we lend a helping hand to the family of such a beautiful soul who needs us now more than ever. If you never met Makaili you really missed out, but if you ever meet someone who knew him, you're meeting a piece of his heart. Every single time someone had an encounter with him, they were left forever changed.

 

I simply can't sum up what a phenomenal young man Makaili was but if you never got the chance to meet him, here's a few fun facts about him :)!

 

Makaili loved watching movies, listening to music, playing video games, camping, fishing, hiking, and campfires. One of his favorite hobbies was riding his bike and hanging out with his friends as often as time allowed! If you didn’t catch him doing any of the above, then you’d be sure to find yourself at the receiving end of a great comedic prank! Some of his best pranks (in my opinion) were talking his family into taking him out to dinner and then ordering the most expensive item on the menu…. Smart kid if you ask me! His joyful personality and pursuit to make his friends and family laugh and smile was his mission. There wasn’t a day that would go by where even the smallest interaction with Makaili wouldn’t lead to your biggest smile.

 

At the age of just 13, Makaili began to find his passion in life as he watched his older brother Kaiser from afar develop his talents in film and photography. As any little brother does, Makaili strapped himself to his brother’s hip and tried to learn as much as he could so that he might share in his brother’s ventures. As the days have slowly drawn on since his passing, the days in Cheyenne have seemed brighter. How might you ask can days seem brighter if we lost such a young bright light. Well, that’s just it…. His light is so bright, and his smile shined so far that as we mourn below in our physical shells, Makaili’s smile and warmth shines down on us all, wrapping us in a blanket of love letting his family and us know he’s okay and with us each and every day.

 

Makaili’s immediate household family, Clifton and Janelle Jones, along with his older brother Kaiser Cunningham. would like to extend their thanks and appreciation for the outpouring of love and support from the community. Every note, every hug, every single time you’ve extended your hand in effort to help them in this time of need has meant everything to them. I’m sure as you can imagine, the stories of anyone’s experience with Makaili has helped tremendously over the last few days. Especially his peers and friends who started the #4Mak, and #ForMak movement, your small action to memorialize a young child has offered strength and courage to those who’ve needed it most. To continue honoring him, please use a red porch light in the coming days to spread awareness of what a beacon of hope he was in the all the lives of those he touched.

 

Here’s where we come together to help, and truly LIVE the “Cowboy Strong” Motto. As you can imagine with any death, comes unexpected expenses, hospital bills, and funds for a memorial to be set up at a later date. Please consider donating to Makaili’s family in their time of need, this is a family who would give the shirts of their backs to help anyone. They need us, now.

 

*WHY IS THIS ONLY $1?!

 

 

Makaili James Evans

06/05/08 - 11/05/21