Braiden Michael Patton, 24, of St. Maries, Idaho, passed away on October 4, 2026, near Kingston, Idaho.

There are some losses that leave a silence too large for words. Braiden’s passing has devastated his family, shaken his friends, and deeply affected the community that watched him grow up. His life was far too short, but in 24 years he managed to leave behind an extraordinary amount of love, laughter, friendship, and memories that will never be forgotten.

Braiden was born November 18, 2001, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Donny and Katie Patton. He spent his younger years growing up between Athol and Calder. When he reached middle school, Braiden moved in with his beloved Aunt Meggie and began attending school in St. Maries.

He graduated from St. Maries High School with the Class of 2020, during a year none of them would ever forget. COVID had changed nearly every tradition, including graduation. Rather than walking across a stage in the usual way, Braiden and his classmates received their diplomas while standing outside their vehicles. It wasn’t the graduation anyone had imagined, but the school district found a way to honor them, and it became one more memorable chapter in Braiden’s story.

Braiden was incredibly smart, although his school years came with one recurring problem, he would do his homework and then forget to turn it in. Traditional sports never really interested him much. His sports were found in the woods, on the river, and anywhere that involved hunting, fishing, exploring, or getting outside. Because more than anything, Braiden was a “Calder kid”.

The outdoors was part of who he was. From the time he was young, he loved hunting and fishing, and those passions only grew as he got older. He loved looking for horns, picking mushrooms, riding four-wheelers and bicycles, and spending time around a bonfire with his friends. After becoming close with Isaac Leeds, Braiden discovered arrowhead hunting and quickly became hooked. There was always another stretch of ground to explore, another place to hunt, and another reason to be outside.

Following high school, Braiden moved to Coeur d’Alene and began framing for Jeff Benderett. He eventually returned to St. Maries, where he lived with his Haynes family and went to work for Halloran Construction framing houses.

That job would help lead him to the most important chapter of his life. Through Halloran Construction, Braiden met Isaac Leeds. In 2023, Isaac invited him to his daughter Lily’s graduation. Braiden attended, and when he and Lilly met, there was an instant connection between them. The two quickly became inseparable and began building a life together in St. Maries.

In 2025, their world changed forever when their son, Everett James, was born. Braiden was beyond excited to become a dad, and from the moment Everett arrived, he embraced fatherhood with his whole heart. He was a phenomenal father. His family became the center of his world, and nearly everything he did was done with them in mind. He wanted to work hard, provide for them, and build a good life for Lily and Everett.

Braiden and Lily had plans. They were going to be married in September of 2027. They had a future they were building together, a little boy they adored, and so many dreams still ahead of them.

Braiden was no stranger to hard work. He was strong, capable, and seemed able to conquer nearly anything he decided to try. He went logging for Eric Karber, where he hooked, ran skidder (although he would readily admit that was not his favorite job) and operated loader. Whether he was framing houses, working in the woods, or learning something new, Braiden gave it everything he had.

Outside of work, he was the kind of person people naturally wanted to be around. Braiden was a social butterfly with a huge heart. He was loyal to the people he loved and genuinely cared about those he met. He enjoyed hanging out with his friends, sitting around bonfires, laughing, telling stories, and simply being part of the people around him.

There were also pieces of Braiden that never changed from childhood. As a little boy, he was absolutely terrified of the song “Happy Birthday,” a memory his family will always smile about. He loved boxing, both watching it and taking part in it. And from the time he was a young boy, Braiden loved Jurassic Park. He knew the dinosaurs, knew their names, and never really outgrew it. Even as an adult, Jurassic Park remained something he loved. He was a movie lover and could recite almost any cartoon word for word. Braiden also believed in all things Viking and believed in Valhalla believing life started after death.

Those little things matter now. The dinosaurs. The bonfires. The arrowheads. The mushrooms. The fishing poles and hunting trips. The woods around Calder. The stories his friends will tell for the rest of their lives. The work gloves, the logging equipment, and the projects he put his hands to. The way he could make people laugh. The enormous heart behind the tough, hardworking young man everyone knew.

Most of all, there was Lily and Everett. Braiden loved them beyond measure. He wanted nothing more than to take care of them, to watch his son grow, and to spend the years ahead building the life he and Lily had dreamed about together.

Braiden is survived by his loving companion, Lilynn “Lily” Leeds, and their son, Everett James Patton, of St. Maries; his parents, Donny Patton of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Katie Patton of Spokane, Washington; his siblings, Trevor Moore of St. Maries, Kyndal Lockard of Coeur d’Alene, Serena Patton of St. Maries, and Gracie Patton of St. Maries; his grandparents, Cheryl Patton of Clarkston, Washington, Liz Codoni of Calder, Idaho, and Rob Codoni of Arizona; Lily’s parents, Isaac and Laci Leeds of St. Maries; Lily’s sisters, Abbygail Leeds and Chloe Leeds, both of St. Maries; and his beloved aunt and uncle, Meggie and Trevor Morris of St. Maries among other aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents.

It is difficult to make sense of losing someone like Braiden at only 24 years old. He should have had decades more hunting seasons, fishing trips, bonfires, birthdays, anniversaries, workdays, lazy Sundays, and ordinary moments with the people he loved. He should have been there to watch Everett grow from a little boy into a man. There should have been more time. But the measure of a life is not only found in the number of years lived. It is also found in the love given, the lives touched, and the memories left behind. Braiden gave all of those things in abundance.

He will forever be remembered as a son, brother, grandson, nephew, friend, devoted partner, proud father, hardworking young man, loyal friend, outdoorsman, and above all else, a Calder kid through and through.

The woods, rivers, and mountains he loved so much will always hold pieces of him, but Braiden’s greatest legacy will live on in his son Everett, in Lilly, in his family, and in the countless people fortunate enough to have known and loved him.

The family is planning a gathering to celebrate Braiden’s life at a later date.