2005 ~ 2025
Alex Miles Whittaker passed away surrounded by nature on July 7th, 2025. Alex was born March 22nd, 2005, in Fairbanks, Alaska. At the tender age of five weeks early, Alex was already exceeding everyone’s expectations, leaving the NICU after only five days, so eager was he to join mom, dad, and big brother at home. Alex’s bright hazel eyes and deep dimples lit up the lives of everyone around him from day one. Unlike his more introverted family, from the moment he could speak, Alex would greet every stranger he passed in the supermarket with a grin and a loud “HI!” He seldom waited for a response, as baby Alex prioritized greeting every stranger he met over carrying on a conversation with just a few of them. Aidan couldn’t say the name “Alex” at first, so Alex’s family nickname became what Aidan could call him: “Augie”.
Alex was raised in the small town of Healy, Alaska, spending his toddler years with his family of four in a 10x10 cabin which had high speed internet before it had indoor plumbing. Denali National Park was his backyard, and he loved camping, fishing, adventuring in the woods, and cutting down our yearly Christmas trees. Alex’s curiosity and thirst for knowledge could have registered on the Richter scale. Alex gloried in science experiments, bouncing off walls, art, music, movies, the outdoors, creative dance classes, friends, family, pot stickers, Webkinz, Shirley Temples, Little Einsteins, Phineas and Ferb, the beauty and wildlife of Alaska, and finding creative ways to dispose of mashed potatoes his parents might have made him finish. (Rumor has it, the ghosts of mashed potatoes past still haunt the ceiling of his childhood home). He was an artist from very early, and the remnants of his Early Sharpie Period are still visible on the dashboard of his dad’s oldest car. He learned sign language for “I love you” and made quick business of teaching it to everyone in his family. Soon he was signing “I love you” at every parting, a practice that continues in his immediate family to this day. He became a big brother at the age of six and a half, and he could not have loved his younger sister Cora or his baby brother Russell more. The adoration was mutual.
When Alex was 12, his family relocated to Utah to be nearer to relatives. Several years later, his parents remarried, and Alex’s family grew to include two stepmothers, Margo and Andrea. Both stepparents were fortunate to have Alex in their lives, as he consistently exhibited kindness and love, which were always prevalent in Alex’s presence, and welcoming these two new relationships was no exception.
Alex’s insatiable curiosity continued into his teenage years. His skills bloomed as an artist, and he drew and painted a number of pieces which hang on the walls of family members to this day. He gifted his family many pieces, and we will forever cherish our Alex originals. After a limited number of piano lessons, Alex gave up on learning to read music and instead began to learn by ear (often in the car), rushing to the piano to play it as soon as he got home. No musical genre was too niche for Alex’s tastes. He was equally at home playing video game themes and washing machine cycle sounds as he was navigating the majestic swells of Nessun Dorma.
While attending Providence Hall High School, Alex discovered a passion for the theater arts under an inspiring teacher and mentor. Alex charmed us all as a noble and gentle Colonel Brandon in “Sense and Sensibility” and made us laugh in his comedy roles in “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “You Can’t Take It With You”. He exceled behind the scenes as well, learning to run tech for his mom’s dance studio and working as the puppeteer for Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors”. He prepared the piece “Les Poissons” from Little Mermaid for an audition and had his entire family in stitches as he perfected an over-the-top French accent. His comedic chops went beyond the stage, and his bone dry and at times sardonic wit were beyond his years. Alex competed a comedic monologue at State Drama Festival in 2022, and received the Region 15 Drama Best Actor award for 2022-2023. Alex graduated from Providence Hall High School in 2023, and the friendships forged within those walls were the most meaningful of his short life.
Alex was an excellent cook and delighted his family with recipes gleaned from YouTube. For Alex, no recipe was too complicated, no specialty kitchen appliance too unattainable. Inspired by the Pixar short named "Bao", Alex bought all of the ingredients and bamboo steamer baskets required to make enough bao to feed a small village. Alex made one batch which were deemed delicious by all, but then he never made them again, claiming the first batch not quite good enough. Alex’s perfectionism sometimes got in the way of him sharing his many talents outside of a close circle, but he never lost his desire to try new things. In the final weeks before his passing, he was energized by a new job in food service and working on his baking skills in his spare time. He baked bread at home and borrowed the fire pits of friends and neighbors as he learned how to make cheese bread on a campfire.
Alex was blessed to have known romantic love and to have formed deep friendships with a diverse group of amazing people spanning his many interests. His verve for life was infectious, and everything he did, he always wanted to do better. He would teach you how to become great at Smash Bros or chess, because he loved to teach, and because his victory would be so much the sweeter if he knew you were also playing at your best. No topic of conversation was out of bounds during car rides, (short or long) from the circulatory systems of frogs, to the curvature of Earth, to G-forces produced in launching into space, to the best ways to do a speed run in Super Mario Bros. Alex loved nothing more than talking nerdy with his family, gently teasing them with a grin on his face and a sparkle in his eyes. His generous heart was known and loved by all.
Alex is survived by his parents, Tad & Andrea (Posada Marquez) Whittaker and Susannah (Dodge) & Margo (Munson) Oliver, siblings Aidan (Anya Casper) Whittaker, Cora Whittaker, and Russell Whittaker, Grandparents Russell (Carol) Whittaker, Kristine Karlson, Ted (Kathy) Dodge, Kathleen (Marshall) Terry, Duke (Diane) Munson, Jewell (Calvin) McChesney, Carmen Rosa Marquez, and Heliodoro Lozano, as well as dozens of loving aunts and uncles, fifty-one first cousins, and hundreds more extended family, chosen family, and friends. We all mourn his loss deeply while celebrating the incredible memories that will carry him forever in our hearts.
Alex is preceded in death by his aunts Jennie Whittaker and Tammy Whittaker, cousin Mia Dodge, and all of his wonderful Great-Grandparents.
All who knew and loved Alex are invited to join his Celebration of Life at Wheeler Farm Activity Barn on Friday, July 18th at 12:00 PM. Doors will open at 11:30 AM
Twenty years were not enough. If love could have kept you alive, you would have lived forever.
The Celebration of Life was streamed via Zoom. To watch the previously held services, please click the "Watch Services" link above.
Tad, I am so sorry for your loss of Alex. I know so well what you are going through. We know that he is in a better place for healing. You and your family are in my prayers. Although I can’t be there Friday you will be in my thoughts. ❤️always, Cynthia
Alex, your kindness and love will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing you. I valued our 1:1 discussions every time we were together. My heart breaks for your family. I hope your mind has found peace and comfort. Much love
Alex was such a kind hearted person. He was someone who could light up a room with a smile and always tried to get others to share their smile as well. I met Alex my freshman year of high school and already could tell we would be great friends while we joked around in theatre we also discussed our dreams aspirations and what our goals in life were. Alex wasn’t just a friend to me he was like an older brother. Someone who always checked in and looked out for me. I always felt like he was cheering for me wherever he was to keep pushing towards what I want. One of my favorite memories with Alex was one day when we had a morning class we swapped jackets. I had a blue zip up and he was wearing his classic pink jacket. It was just on a whim both of us appreciating the other one’s style but at the end of the day he offered that we could just permanently swap and I regret not doing that so much. I said maybe next time but I wanted to make sure he had his signature look. Alex was also such an amazing and hardworking person soon after school he opened a car detailing business and talked to me about traveling around and doing that. Unfortunately I had a job already and couldn’t quite go with him the week he wanted too but whenever he was in town I had a blast going to doors together trying to get some business going. I was also one of many who was taught how to get better at chess so he could beat my butt every time without fail and even gave a crack at trying to beat him in smash. However I did have the honor of teaching him minesweeper while we were in credit recovery now should we have been playing chess and minesweeper in that class made to help us catch up on credits and graduate. Probably not however I wouldn’t change a thing. Even after graduating Alex always made room for me to hangout with him and his friends even if I wasn’t always welcome by the other friends he had. I loved Alex as a friend and as a brother figure. He gave me so much inspiration of who I have become as a person. He always gave me ideas on how to achieve my dreams and even helped me achieve some of them when he was my wing man. Two days before finding out about Alex I was busy at work and the thought of him crossed my mind. I though I should message him sometime soon and we could plan to get lunch and catch up. Unfortunately I figured I had time and went back to work planning to call him on my next day off. I regret that so much. I regret not being able to talk to him one more time which might make me selfish because I talked to him so much already but I just wish I could’ve said a last proper I love you man. I honestly am trying to not finish writing this and to continue to go on to tell stories about how Alex saved my life. I don’t want to stop because that means I have to fully accept that he’s no longer here to cheer me on or here to talk about our dreams and future plans anymore. Alex. I love you man. I know you’re cheering me on from up there and you and me will have to have a talk about our dreams together when I see you again.
Thinking of you and your family. Keeping you all in my prayers!!!
I was a freshman and Alex was a junior when I met him in high school. He was in my theater 2 class and I went to regional and state drama competition with him. I also was an actor along with him when he was in sense and sensibility. He really made an impact on me because of his kindness. Whenever I had to do a performance in front of the class he always made sure to tell me what a good job I did. That affected me more than he knew. He was also just making everyone laugh. When we were practicing for our regional and state competitions, his monologue was funny but he made it even funnier by the voices he would use and the way he would really embody the character. He was an amazing actor and such an epithetic caring person. He was an amazing listener and he was very observant. He helped me feel a little less lonely when I was my little awkward freshman self and I can never thank him enough for that. For Alex's family, you did such a good job raising such a kind and observant soul. Please know that he made a deep impact on many peoples lives.
- Alex's Friend