Ripley Paul Arnell

“Forever held in love and light”

Ripley Paul Arnell, 21, of Eagle, Idaho passed away peacefully on September 9th, 2026. Ripley was welcomed into this world on March 23rd, 2005 in Salt Lake City, Utah to a very excited Paul and Tristin Love Ripley Arnell. Ripley would be the first-born son of four beautiful kids. After a few moves for his Papa’s career, his family moved to the Boise area in 2010.

The one thing everyone knows about Ripley was how much he loved his family. He truly loved spending time with us whether playing board or card games around the kitchen table, snuggling on the couch and watching movies, enjoying family dinners or just chatting around the backyard fire or in the living room about the events of the day. He loved spending time with us and we loved and are so grateful for all of that time as well.

We were lucky to have enjoyed several family vacations with Ripley. He loved going to new places and helping us explore the local scene and find things for our family to enjoy. His all-time favorite trip, which we repeated often, was our trips to the Oregon Coast. He loved that ocean, the sand, the greenery, the weather, the chance to explore and, of course, the fresh seafood. There wasn’t a plate of seafood Ripley wouldn’t try.

Ripley had a beautiful bond with his sister and two younger brothers. As parents, we know how blessed we are to have kids as close as our kids really are. They have their special language, jokes, and secrets that would keep them laughing and snickering during meal times or during car trips as we parents just sat oblivious to what they were laughing about. But we would just smile at each other knowing how special those moments were for our kids. Ripley would invite the kids to go over to his house to game and do sleep overs. The kids love the same kind of music and all got to go to a concert together a few weeks before Ripley’s passing. Whenever they were together, it was a proud Mama and Papa moment to watch how easy it was for them to get along and take care of each other. They learned that from Ripley as he set the tone for them. He was the perfect big brother.

Ripley loved his friends. He had a core group of friends that he grew up with since middle school and expanded his core group over the years. He gave willingly of himself and never expected anything in return. Above anything, he was fiercely loyal as a friend and, just like his siblings, did what he could to care for them and keep them close.

Ripley loved to show his love through acts of service and spending time with others. He loved to spoil people as often as he could. For us, we were spoiled by his love and willingness and even wanting to be with us, even as he grew beyond his teen years and into his 20’s. He stayed close to us and would often call just to chat and talk through his day. We loved that as he was growing into the amazing man he was and learning independence, he still leaned heavily into his family for advice and refuge. His heart loved so fiercely but also broke so easily. He was a true example of love and had the gift to comfort those who needed it, especially through one of his big bear hugs and that smile.

Ripley was brilliant. He graduated from Eagle High School and was pursuing an education in Biology, leaning into the study of entomology. He craved learning about the world around him. He wanted to understand it all. Anything we needed to know about the world, we knew we could ask Ripley and he would have an amazing insight into the topic.

He loved being in nature. He loved to go fishing, be in the mountains, the foothills, on the lake, out shooting, camping or just anywhere he could feel peace and happiness. He never had to look far. He was always surrounded by love and good people.

Ripley is survived by his doting parents Paul and Tristin, sister Adelyn Love (19), brothers Soren Royden (17) and Everett Britt (15) all of Eagle, Idaho as well as all of his aunts, uncles, cousins, both grandmothers and countless friends.

He is preceded in death by his two grandfathers, Britt and Royden, who we know welcomed him back to his heavenly home with open arms.

A Celebration of Life will be held with family and friends as we come together to honor Ripley and celebrate the love, joy, and lasting impact and light he brought into all of our lives. We love and miss you Ripley. Your passing has been hard to bear for all of us but we have felt you surround us and lift us up through each day, just as you did every day. Until we meet again my son…