Joshua Robert Echols of Hermiston passed away on Sept. 30, 2023 in Hermiston at the age of 20.
He was born on April 3, 2003 at Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston, premature and addicted to heroin.
Joshua was immediately sent to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, Wash., where he spent the next four weeks detoxing. He was placed in foster care and thereafter adopted by Scot and Patty Echols of Hermiston. Joshua spent the next years struggling with the after effects of his early exposure to opiates.
Joshua had a mischievous sense of humor and a beautiful smile. There wasn’t a safety latch, a baby gate or a harness that could contain him as a toddler. His search for escape continued through his childhood and teenage years without success.
Joshua’s life began in turmoil and sadly, it ended the same way. Addiction was in his veins and it haunted him. He turned to drugs as a means of escape and self-medication. Regrettably, his life was taken due to an overdose of fentanyl.
Joshua’s parents and family know that there are many others in the community suffering from the consequences of drug use, including losing loved ones. We want to speak up about Joshua’s death in the hopes that his story will push other addicts and their families to seek help. If other lives can be saved, Joshua’s death will not be in vain.
Joshua is survived by numerous family members and many friends.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Please share memories of Joshua with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
