Public memorial planned for Jesse Owens, Perkasie man, 21, who died after tree fall

A Perkasie-area man who was severely injured by a falling tree on Aug. 2 has died, according to his mom's Facebook page.

Jesse Owens suffered traumatic brain injuries when a tree fell on him, a few days before his 21st birthday. He was put on life support at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest, according to his mom, Kristin Moyer.

Owens died in the hospital on Aug. 11. The family will hold a memorial on Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. that is open to the public, his mom wrote on Facebook, at The Church of Illumination, located at 5966 Clymer Road in Quakertown.

The tree shattered Owens's skull and caused a series of catastrophic strokes, damaging his frontal lobe and lower brain, Moyer said. Owens was working for a tree removal service when he suffered the severe blow, Moyer said.

A donation page to fund Owens's medical expenses was organized by staff from The Perk, a local restaurant where Moyer worked for years as a sous chef, has raised more than $25,000, with 370 individual donations.

"She has been there for our community, sharing her culinary talents and amazing spirit. Now we want to support Jesse, Kristin, and their family during this challenging time," the GoFundMe page reads.

Pennridge School District, where Owens graduated in 2021, had shared his family's call for thoughts and prayers on the district's official Facebook page. "Seeing how many people are praying is getting us through this. This hospital is just packed with 20-somethings crying and praying," the family's statement read.

But the support poured in from far beyond their immediate community, Moyer said, with church groups coming from as far as Lansdale to pray with her son at the Lehigh Valley hospital. Other mothers of children with traumatic brain injuries also showed up to support the family.

Tree fall puts man on life support:Perkasie man, 21, suffers traumatic brain injury after tree fall incident

"It's difficult for them to share their own stories with me because they have to relive their own pain," Moyer said. "They're praying beside Jesse even though it's hard for them."

At the time of the accident, Owens was young and healthy — a hunter, fisherman, and jiu jitsu medalist, Moyer said. Moyer, along with the rest of Owens's family — his sister August, his grandmother, and his girlfriend, Quinn McDermott — are also taking solace in Jesse's own words, which he previously posted on Instagram: "Life is suffering, but it doesn't have to be hell. I feel as though there is a new paradigm of spiritual playgrounds available."

Moyer said she's grateful for the outpouring from people far and wide. "There are still beautiful communities," she said.

Reporter Jess Rohan can be reached at jrohan@gannett.com.