Jason Christopher Marsden, 52, died at his home on F Street in Salida on Feb. 23 2025.

He is survived by husband and partner of 26 years, Guy Padgett; mother, Denise Marsden Padgett; sister, Shawn VanHaelen; nephews, Hunter VanHaelen and Fletcher VanHaelen; niece, Marley VanHaelen; aunt, Cheryl Marsden Beilke; uncles Terry Marsden and Mike Romsdahl; and cousins, Kathie Nee, Jeremie Romsdahl and Ted McIntosh.

Jason was preceded in death by his father, Lynn Marsden; uncles Larry Marsden, Kurt Marsden and Kris Romsdahl; and grandparents, Clinton and Hazel Marsden and Jim and Charlotte Romsdahl.

Jason was born April 26, 1972, in St James, Minnesota. After his father passed away, he and his mother and sister moved to Sheridan, Wyoming.

Jason graduated with honors from Sheridan High School and attended Harvard University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in English and American literature, focused on post-World War II poetry.

Jason moved to Casper, Wyoming, where he became an award-winning reporter at the Casper Star Tribune. He wrote a series of articles revealing the severity of pollution caused by a local refinery that led to the rehabilitation and reuse of the site. During this time, he met his husband, Guy Padgett, in 1998, with whom he moved to Washington, D.C., to serve as the Casper Star Tribune’s Washington correspondent.

Returning to Casper, Jason was the founding executive director of Wyoming Conservation Voters. Jason advocated for hunters, anglers and for public access to Wyoming’s great outdoors. He played a pivotal role in lobbying for the creation of the Wyoming Wildlife Trust Fund.

In 2009, Jason and his husband relocated to Denver, where Jason served as the executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. He worked tirelessly to fight for the LGBT community, often facing down hatred and vitriol to protect his community. In this role, he traveled around the world to promote equality and help teach others how to advocate for themselves.

While in Denver, marriage equality was achieved in the USA, and Jason and Guy married, legalizing what had for years already been a reality.

Jason and Guy moved to Salida in 2023, when Jason became executive director at the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association. He cherished his work with GARNA, educating the public about the Arkansas River Valley, helping to restore wildlife habitat and advocating for the responsible use of the numerous outdoor recreation opportunities in Chaffee County. He loved the community here and immediately felt that this was his home.

Jason loved being outdoors, whether an afternoon walk in the Arkansas Hills, a hike up to a waterfall or mountain lake or a weekend out camping. He enjoyed visiting new places, exploring local food, culture and museums, and had a particular fondness for Norway and the Netherlands. He loved live music, in recent years enjoying shows by My Morning Jacket, Billy Strings and Spoon. He enjoyed cooking and cherished nights in with his cat and his husband.

Those who had the pleasure of knowing Jason found a soul dedicated to justice, a keen intellect and a rapier wit, a deep well of kindness and understanding and a fierce will to protect the less fortunate.

There will be a service for Jason at 1 p.m. March 15, 2025, at Salida United Methodist Church, 228 E. Fourth St., followed by a celebration of his life at 4 p.m. at Salida SteamPlant Event Center, 220 W. Sackett Ave.

The Mountain Mail, Salida, CO - Mar. 13, 2025.