Aaron Markarian

Aaron Lee Markarian, 23, of Warrensburg died Thursday, March 21, 2013. Aaron, a student at University of Missouri – Kansas City, died instantly after being shot during a robbery at his home near the campus.
Aaron graduated from the Warrensburg Senior High School in 2008 in the top 15% of his class and a member of the Nation Honor Society. He performed as the senior vocalist at the WHS graduation. He enrolled at the University of Central Missouri for his freshman year before he transferred to the UMKC. Aaron would have graduated with a degree in vocal performance in 7 weeks.

Aaron first showed his interest in performing when he told his mother that he wanted to be a clown at the age of 3. He joined the Warrensburg Middle School Choir. While singing with the Warrensburg High School Show Choir his freshman year the quality of his voice was noticed. The summer of his sophomore year Aaron was selected to attend the Missouri Fine Arts Academy. While performing with the show choir be began to take voice lessons with Dr. Ken Wood (UCM) where he developed an interest in opera. At the Warrensburg High School Aaron performed with the choir, the show choir, and a in variety of plays. He worked with the UCM Summer Repertory Theater. He attended UCM for 1 year working with Dr. Jacob Sentgeorge and performed in the musicals Side by Side by Sondheim and Cabaret. Aaron transferred to the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri – Kansas City in order to study opera. Aaron performed in numerous Conservatory productions including appearing most recently as Demetrius in last week’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Shakespeare said that “all the world’s a stage” and Aaron believed that it was his stage. He would break into 4 measures of a song in the middle of the living room. He always spoke like he was trying to hit the audience in the back of the theater. He organized games for his brothers. He built forts in the front yard from snow, leaves, or abandoned cardboard boxes. The KC Renaissance Festival inspired years of jousting with homemade foam weapons and armor and while at the Ren Fest he won a moustache contest where he had to woo a fair maiden. He acted in and wrote scripts for student video projects in high school and college.
Aaron was open and gregarious. His warmth for friends meant that time apart never turned into distance and relationships were rejoined instantly.

Aaron deeply loved and was loved by his family. Aaron is survived by his mother Melinda (Strate) Loch of Warrensburg and his father Jonathan Markarian of Kearney; his brothers Mathew Deyo, Zachariah Deyo, Stephen Deyo (Warrensburg), and Nikolas Markarian (Kearney); his paternal Grandfather Tracy Dyer (Odessa); and his maternal grandparents Robert and Kay Strate. Aaron’s extended family included Victoria Deyo and his step-family James Loch and Kylie, Jessie, and Kellin. Aaron was preceded in death by his grandmother Karen Dyer (Odessa) and great-grandfather Wendel Stockton (Warrensburg).
Visitation will be at the Speaks Chapel, 18020 E 39th St., Independence, MO on Friday, March 29, from 5-9 pm. The memorial service will be at the Lee’s Summit Community of Christ Church, 1101 NE Independence Ave., Lee’s Summit, MO, on Saturday, March 30, at 2 pm with internment to follow at the Greenton Cemetery, Odessa. Donations may be offered to the Aaron Markarian Memorial fund at the Kearney Commercial Bank (KCB) or the Conservatory of Music and Dance at UMKC. To celebrate Aaron’s life and personality, please dress casually. Aaron’s favorite color was blue, black attire is discouraged.