With profound love and spiritual reverence, we share the physical transition of our beloved Jared, who on Tuesday, May 26th, 2026 in Eureka, peacefully graduated to Zion after a year of bravely battling the most aggressive and unyielding cancer. He was surrounded by his mother, father, and children. He had just celebrated his 49th birthday.

Jared Wilkinson Pabalate was born on Tuesday, March 15th, 1977 in Fort Sill, Oklahoma to Army Chief Warrant Officer Melencio Reyes Pabalate and Lynne Marie Pabalate nee Wilkinson. His earthly journey meandered him through Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, Hawaii, Alabama, Texas, Germany & the Continent, the Americas, Oregon, California… from his first breath, Jared was a big personality who loved life out loud, one meaningful moment at a time. No matter the city, state, or country, he lived his truth of One Love, steadfast in his beliefs and accepting of yours, seeking connection without judgment. When Jared loved you, you were loved.

After 22 years of active-duty military service, Melencio retired and the family moved back stateside from Wiesbaden, Germany to Eureka, where Jared attended Eureka High School, continuing his success in soccer-basketball-tennis. He graduated in 1995 and played soccer for Humboldt State University. He lived in San Francisco with his three boys and in 2009 moved back to Eureka where he welcomed his daughter. He worked at Cher-Ae Heights Casino as a dealer and entrepreneured a successful lawn-care service for many years. Most recently, Jared worked as a social worker, and at Beau Pre & Eureka Municipal Golf Courses.

Jared experienced much joy in his life: playing soccer for the Bundesliga in Germany, boogie-boarding at North Shore (our go-to beach in Hawaii), traveling the Americas & Europe, taking trips with his kids…making a Hole- In-One at Eureka Muni! His happiest place was with family and the most magnificent milestones Jared manifested are the births of his children. They dazzled him daily. Jared’s kids are his immortality & most revered blessings in life: his devotion to family & hope for a better country is exemplified through Kamica’s (Rasta) military service & moving home to help care for his dad. His athletic acumen & quest for knowledge bounces back within his mini-me Rizalito’s prowess on court-field & in Lito’s spiritual depth. His reverence for family & curious spirit now travels ever onward with Melencio exploring our world, carrying forward his dad’s passion for new discoveries. His appreciation for our world’s beauty & the power of words is abundant in Eva Inez’s eye toward the artistic & the scribed.His maternal grandfather, WWII Seabee & big-crane operator Frederick Douglas Wilkinson III (‘Pops’), saw his athleticism as soon as he toddled and dubbed Jared, “Dr. J.” after Julius Erving. Always the naturally gifted athlete, he excelled in any sport he thought about, and especially loved juggling the soccer ball with his four kids ~ practicing full body-hand-I coordination while listening to reggae music.

The moments playing golf* with his first soccer coach, his dad, Melencio, invigorated Jay. The bond of father & son deepened into friendship on those fairways. Jared set his mind to get down to a single-digit handicap and when he achieved this, their excitement was tangible. As cancer ravaged him off the links, he would encourage his dad to continue playing and looked forward to hearing about the antics of their golfing buddies. Together with his dad & mom, Jay created a nurturing and safe space for his kids & their friends to expand and explore the world. And in this increasingly loud world, Jay treasured the quiet moments he shared with his mom, Lynne, watching their morning & evening gameshows … a tradition evoking watching The Price, Jeopardy, & The Wheel with his Pops & maternal grandmother, Georgia Marie Wilkinson nee Shenk, an avid softball-volleyball player & pharmacy tech. Lynne knows she will see her son again in Paradise, where he is embracing his maternal Uncle Doug (Frederick Douglas Wilkinson IV).

This year his older sister Angela joined in the game show fun. She will forever treasure their razzing texts and messages. She remembers when instead of a pony, another little human was presented to her, her kid brother who’d one day chaperone her dates. She’d give anything for him to annoy her into letting him use her tennis racquets and to rally with him. That he cherished her racquets, kept them throughout the years, and gifted them to his kids to play with is … peak Jared. She now holds more dearly their time living together in 90s LA whilst booking modeling gigs, together & individually, and enjoying Hollywood’s live music scene.

Jay was a fun-loving uncle to his older brother Joshua and sister-in-law Jenna’s (nee Duplessie) kids. His niece Abri and nephew Christian absolutely adored playing with him. Christian would often remark that he didn’t want to go to whichever global destination being considered for holiday … he wanted to go to California to see Uncle Jared! Josh remembers Jay as a loving and loyal brother growing up. “It gave me great boldness and confidence going into new situations with him by my side.”

Jay was always supportive of his youngest brother, Justin, and brother-in-law Nick Bernier. One of their favorite memories was being surprised by Jared and his kids when they were unexpectedly able to make it to their wedding. Justin would lovingly refer toJay as his “youngest brother” as Jared was the youngest of his older siblings. They will miss his random texts sending them love and wishing his brothers well. Another cherished memory was when the family lived in Killeen, Texas in the early ‘80s when Jay had made a point to surprise Justin with a maze for his birthday that he had to traverse blindfolded in order to find his birthday presents. It is one of Justin’s most coveted memories to this day.

Jared is preceded by and reunited with his paternal Lolo Benedicto Pabalate (Bataan Death March survivor) & card-shark Lola Virginia Pabalate nee Reyes (WWII internment camp survivor), his Aunt Suzanne Pabalate, his maternal grandparents Pops & Gramma Wilkinson, and his Uncle Doug Wilkinson. Jay is survived by his aunt Carol Linden & cousin Amy Linden, aunt Bennie Gemello, cousin JP Denison & family, cousin Lisa Marie Gemello, uncle Dan & aunt Kathy Pabalate, cousin Jonathan & Amy Pabalate, cousin David & Krista Pabalate family, aunt Elaine Ostertag, cousin Kyle & Esmeralda Ostertag, cousin Ryan Ostertag & family, uncle Paul Ostertag, uncle Ed & Cathy Pabalate family, cousin Wesley & Jeri Paup family, cousin Barb & Rich Newell family, brother-in-law Derek Duplessie. Jay is remembered by Nayeli Hamanaka & family, by Mark Waterman & family (we miss you April), and by his best friend Keon & family who stood by & grew with him throughout their friendship. As a collective family, we lift our beloved up.

Grief doesn’t get smaller; we get bigger. We are bigger for knowing Jared Wilkinson Pabalate. Our lives are better for loving Jay and for being embraced by his big hugs of love. Blessed love and One Love, until we meet again.

“It’s the Rastamans philosophy not to mourn over one’s death…his work which he has been doing for this period of time…he had reached a dimension of accomplishment. And it’s for us who still have the work to do.” ~ Peter Tosh

There will be a Celebration of Life Open House: 1-4 pm Sunday, June 28th, 2026 at: 1624 17th Street Eureka CA 95501. Please bring happy Jay memories to share, and your dancing-feet as we may break-out into spontaneous dancing … just the way Jay would’ve grooved. In lieu of flowers, there will be considerations for his children. For details, please message: 213-631-6002.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jared Pabalate’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.