Our family gathers together to say our goodbyes to our Beloved Daughter, Sister, Sister-in-law, Aunt and Friend, Aliyah Kaitlyn Staker, who passed through the veil Sunday December 17, 2023.

Aliyah was an amazingly caring and empathetic person. Though quiet and shy, she could be found laughing with her loved ones as she shared her witty humor. She was a happy, bubbly and cheerful child, bringing a smile to everyone she met, who blossomed into a beautiful woman with a huge heart. She worked hard at drawing and became a skilled artist; creating detailed sketches and colored pencil drawings. She loved reading fantasy fiction. She loved being in nature, especially when she found fossils or cool rocks. Recently, she became a great partner for doing puzzles, with a healthy disregard for sleep, often puzzling with family members until the wee hours of the morning.

One of Aliyah’s passions in life was to care for and love animals of all kinds, but especially dogs. At a very young age, she would wander from home to find animals to observe, play with and love. Aliyah’s dream of owning her own dog became a reality that blossomed into one of her most precious bonds. Her dog Aiko, a Saint Bernard, has been her closest confidant and best friend through her good days and bad. Aliyah could always be seen with Aiko at her side, even in her last moments.

Aliyah frequently spent at least an hour in a pet store, and knew the local pet store well enough to tell us when they got new parakeets, hamsters, or a new exotic lizard. The last and best job of her life was when she worked with behaviorally challenged dogs. Everyday she would text us pictures of dogs she was working with, then tell us about them when she came home from her 13 hour shift. They were her passion and she found meaning and purpose in teaching, training and caring for those dogs.

The only thing Aliyah loved more than animals was her family. Aliyah was a loving daughter, sister and friend, and she absolutely loved being an aunt. She had two nieces and a nephew which she just adored, her phone and her heart were filled with pictures and short videos of her nieces and nephew. Aliyah loved her sisters and brothers and remained close with each of them. They were her world. Our family, together with her friends, whom she left behind, are crushed by the weight of her passing and a hole in our hearts that cannot be filled.

She is survived by her parents April Byrd & Joseph Staker, Step-parents Valerie Staker & Ray Byrd, her maternal Grandmother Kristie Finley, her sisters Brynja (Cayson) Patey and Aislynne Walz, and by her brothers Joshua (Allie) Staker, Wm Collier Walz, Austin (Haylee) Walz and Braden Walz, and her darling nieces Arabella & Lilija Patey and by her nephew Micah Patey, and by her many aunts, uncles and cousins. She is preceded in death by her Paternal Grandparents Mary & Don Staker, her Maternal Grandfather Greg Finley, her aunt Jodi Lynn Staker and her Uncle Aaron Finley.

Funeral services will be held at the Fox Pointe ward building at 3261 S. Village Parkway in Saratoga Springs, Ut. A Viewing at 10 AM Saturday December 23, 2023, followed by a funeral service at 11AM, in the chapel.

*In lieu of flowers please consider donating to your local animal shelter.