“A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage.”

~The Hero’s Spirit, Twilight Princess

The world has lost a good one. Javi Ska Budd, age 17, died at home due to a medical emergency following a year-long battle with epilepsy on the night of November 28th, 2024. He was born on October 1st, 2007 to Steve Budd and Ashley Rivera-Silva. He is survived by his parents, Steve and Ashley; his beloved younger sister, Luna; his step-dad, Jared Edwards; and many loving grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Javi was truly himself and lived life on his own terms. He was magic, seemingly existing in both the future and some nostalgic past. He loved all, but especially open world video games, crafting an epic arsenal of weapons and tools out of cardboard, and making maps of the distant and enchanted lands of his imagination. He loved to go for walks, particularly at Fassnight Park and the Nature Center.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 425 Downtown, located at 425 W. Walnut St, Springfield, MO 65806 at 11 am. Memorial tributes will begin at 11:30 am. This is truly a celebration of his life, so please forgo the black attire in your closets and don your best fedoras, gaming t-shirts paired with a bandana or necktie, and sweater vests and tennis shoes. Although he didn’t personally have one, I think he would have appreciated a timeless tailored suit as well, but only if it’s paired with your trusty wooden sword.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to CURE Epilepsy (cureepilepsy.org) – to help fund epilepsy research, or Child’s Play (childsplaycharity.org) – to help provide therapeutic games to children in pediatric hospitals.

https://give.cureepilepsy.org/give/611462/#!/donation/checkout

https://childsplay.salsalabs.org/Donate/index.html

“I want you to live for the future. There may be nothing left for you… But despite that, you must look forward and walk a path of hope, trusting that it will sustain you when darkness comes.”

~King of Hyrule, The Wind Waker