June 7, 1983 - August 13, 2026
Date of Service: Oct. 17, 2026
Gavin Bradford Haley was born on June 7, 1983, in Moscow, Idaho, and passed away unexpectedly on the morning of Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Meridian, Idaho. He was 43.
Gavin was one of a kind: vibrant, magnetic, hardworking, funny, candid, and deeply loved. He could bring energy to a room, make people laugh from across it, and offer the kind of honest advice only a true friend would give. He lived fully, made it through difficult seasons, and never stopped trying to become a better man.
Gavin’s sense of home was deeply rooted in the love of his maternal grandparents, Doug and Bonnie Anderson of Heyburn, Idaho. As a teenager, he went to live with them, and they became a steady, defining presence in his life. He helped build their home in Heyburn, a lasting reminder of his work ethic and the bond they shared. He walked the fields of Minidoka County with Grandpa Doug, learning to bird hunt, and shared countless camping trips with Grandma Bonnie, Grandpa Doug, and the wider Anderson family. One especially treasured trip took the family through the Columbia River Gorge and down the Oregon coast, creating memories that stayed with them all.
With his paternal grandparents, Ralph and Ella Haley of Orofino, Idaho, Gavin learned to fish with Grandpa Ralph and spent long summer visits surrounded by simple, lasting joys. He and his family fed carrots to the neighbors’ horses and rode with Grandpa Ralph on the lawn mower.
Gavin worked many jobs, from house painting to restaurant kitchens, where he discovered his love for cooking and creating food that was as memorable as it was beautiful. He served as Executive Chef and Corporate Restaurant Manager for P.F. Chang’s, Executive Chef at Camel’s Crossing, and Executive Chef at the Hyde Park Wine Shop. He later opened Smoke and Thyme and Gas Lantern Drinking Company with his father, David Haley. Gavin eventually opened Nomad, a café and coffee shop inspired by food and flavors from around the world, creating a welcoming place for people to gather. He eventually landed a role as the Food and Nutrition Supervisor for St. Luke’s Hospital in downtown Boise.
Cooking was never just a career for Gavin. It was one of the ways he loved people. He was a master of elegant French cuisine and could create and beautifully plate a ten-course dinner. He also made a smoked brisket people talked about long after the meal was over, the juiciest turkey at Thanksgiving, and desserts that brought everyone back for one more bite. One of his best cheesecakes was made especially for his mother-in-law’s birthday, a gift from his heart and a perfect example of the care he put into everything he made.
Gavin loved sports and was a loyal fan of the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, and the Colorado Avalanche. His devotion to the Mariners was especially strong, reflected in his collection of more than 40 Mariners baseball caps. It was fitting that he passed wearing the jersey of his beloved team, carrying with him something that brought him so much joy and sometimes heartache.
Gavin’s greatest joys were finding his wife, Sandra, and becoming the father of his sons, Lennon and Asher. Those three relationships gave his life a depth of love, purpose, comfort, and happiness that mattered more to him than anything else. Sandra loved the man Gavin was in the quiet moments as much as the one everyone else saw: thoughtful, opinionated, and funny, able to talk for hours by the fire pit while sipping whiskey, often after sharing one of his wonderful meals. No subject was off limits: the boys, marriage, hunting, fishing, guns, sports, politics, science, or current events. In those long conversations, he made people feel seen, heard, and connected.
The outdoors were a steady source of joy for Gavin. He loved camping trips with friends, time spent fixing up his boat, and the simple pleasure of being outside with the people he loved. He was able to take one last camping trip with friends, a memory that will be especially treasured. Gavin also loved traveling with Sandra. Together they explored San Diego, Key West, Mexico, Guatemala, and San Pedro, Belize, the place that held his heart most. He dreamed that one day he and Sandra would retire there, ending their days together beneath the sunsets at Secret Beach.
He loved fiercely and showed up fully for those he cared about. Gavin’s laughter, honesty, strong opinions, big heart, love of cooking, loyalty to his teams, and devotion to his boys and wife will remain woven into the lives of all who loved him.
Gavin was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Doug and Bonnie Anderson of Heyburn, Idaho; his paternal grandparents, Ralph and Ella Haley of Orofino, Idaho; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He is survived by his wife, Sandra Haley of Meridian, Idaho; his sons, Lennon and Asher Haley of Boise, Idaho; his father, David Haley of Boise, Idaho; his mother, Catherine Reno, and stepfather, Scott Reno, of Idaho Falls, Idaho; his brother, Gabriel Haley and sister-in-law, Kara Haley of Salt Lake City, Utah; and many loving in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 17, at Rupert Cemetery, located at 450 N. Meridian, in Rupert, Idaho.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home of Burley.
