Nate Peters

I met Henry sometime around 2015 when I started attending CrossFit Fireside. I remember seeing a tall, awkward teenager lift more weight than my grown adult male body could. I did my best to make friends with Jeff, who was 700% cooler than me. His mom scared me a little. In a weird way, I didn’t want to disappoint her and thought I would never be good enough to get in with this family. Over the years we grew closer to each member of this amazing family, including younger brother Jackson, who shares a love of reading with my wife and kids. We had family dinners, worked out on the weekends, and overall enjoyed each other’s company as much as our busy lives would allow. My family ran a fireworks stand every summer, and I always needed help breaking down boxes, organizing product, and cleaning up during the busy season. Henry was a natural fit because of his incredible work ethic and love for explosives. He worked every summer for several years, always doing an incredible job. He brought a joy to our fireworks stand on those busy, hot, dirty days that was desperately needed. Henry was quick-witted and possessed a humor that was as dry as it was gripping. To know him was to love him, and that humor was at the core of his personality. I will always remember those days in my fireworks stand working with Henry. Shortly thereafter Henry reached out and asked for a job reference, which I was happy to provide. It was a joy to write down why any person, group, or organization would be lucky to have him as a member of their team. During our last season of fireworks Henry grew out the most gloriously atrocious mullet that I have ever seen. On one hand I was jealous at his courage to pull that style off, and on the other I was mortified every time I saw it, and I routinely expressed as much to him. In fact, it became such a highlight of our friendship that he would routinely text me videos of him “shaking it out” in front of the mirror. In the summer of 2023 my family visited Idaho after moving away two years prior. We spent an evening at the Templeton’s home and I was sad to show up to Henry’s absence. I texted him that I missed him and he said he missed me too. I told him “prove it”, and he showed up about 20 minutes later. His mullet had migrated to his upper lip and he had grown another 3.5 feet. I gave him a big hug, told him I loved him and was happy to see him. I’m so glad that I was able to see him again before he was tragically and prematurely taken from us. To know Henry was to love him. There are few people that you come across in life that have the ability to imprint on a soul the way that Henry could. Every member of my family loved him. Jeff called me early in the morning on the day that Henry passed and we shared tears and stories. There were no words at that time or since that I could share to fill some of the gaping space that now existed in his families (and my) heart. I think Henry would want us to remember the mullet, the mustache, the fireworks and mudding, the Trump flag and guns, the platform and weights. He wouldn’t want tears, but that I can’t agree to. So here is the last pic Henry sent me with the caption “hide your moms”. With my greatest love. -Nate