Jared Echols was a lifelong resident in the small town of Springville, Alabama. He was a graduate of Springville High School, playing football throughout his high school career. Following high school, he enrolled in college at Jefferson State Community College while working in the construction field. Jared continued working in construction after graduating from Jefferson State. In 2010, Jared married his wife, Melissa, and the couple welcomed their first daughter, Hailey, in 2013. Settling his new and growing family close to the home where he grew up, Jared began to explore a new career path rooted in his longstanding commitment to serving his community. Jared joined the Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Department, rising to the rank of assistant fire chief. He enrolled at Herzing University, earning a degree and paramedic certification in 2015.

In 2016, he began running his own construction company, specializing in custom doors. In 2017, Jared celebrated the birth of his second daughter, Mallory. He was also named 2017 Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fireman of the Year. Throughout the growth of his family and his business, Jared continued his fire service training, completing multiple training courses, including the Alabama Certified Volunteer Firefighter Course and Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations Course.

In January 2019, he was hired by the Springville Fire Department, where he was able to fulfill his desire to serve community he had grown up in. His next and last training was the Fire Fighter Recruit Course, where he collapsed during a training exercise.

Jared truly had a servant’s heart. He loved his family with all his heart, served the Lord fervently, and had a passion for helping others. He was a hard worker and always gave 110%. He was compassionate, loving, and the most dependable person. He left behind his grandparents, parents, brother, wife, two daughters, and five nieces/nephews. He will be forever missed by these loved ones and many more whose lives he touched.