Shoes representing those no longer here due to suicide, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Thirty-three empty pairs of shoes placed around the Diamond Park fountain represented the 33 lives that were lost to suicide in Butler County in 2025.
Those they represented and many others were honored by the Butler County Suicide Coalition during its annual remembrance rally held on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
The rally, which has been a tradition for over a decade, allowed speakers to share their stories of grieving, as well as their struggles with mental health and lessons for those who may also be struggling.
Karen Baker speaks about her son Jake, as husband Jimmy looks on, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Among those coming to share their stories were Jimmy and Karen Baker, who are still grieving the loss of their son, Jake.
“Jake was the kind of son that anybody would be blessed to have,” Karen Baker said. “We didn’t know where this was coming from or why this happened. What did we do wrong? What did we miss? We got support through family, through friends, through each other and from people and places that we didn’t even know.”
Although they now reside in Maryland, the Bakers drove to Butler to support the Suicide Coalition’s efforts, as well as to promote the nonprofit they formed in Jake’s memory — the Jake Baker 27 Fund, or JB27 for short. Twenty-seven was the number he wore as a football player for Slippery Rock University.
“We do what we call JB27 Talks, where we share Jake's story and we share how we build support systems,” Karen Baker said. “We take a proactive approach to building support systems, so when you’re feeling that way, you can really open up and be stronger together.”
Fellow speaker Dan Osmer shared the story of how he was on the brink of taking his own life over the last Christmas holiday.
“Right now I’m nine months out from being seconds away from being a pair of shoes,” Osmer said.
Osmer said he had made up his mind to take his life on the day after Christmas, but was pulled back by three words from his wife.
“I remember I was sitting in the garage … and my wife walked in and she just looked at me and she said, ‘Are you OK?’” Osmer said. “It was nothing that she hadn’t said before, but for whatever reason, I jumped and grabbed at that. So I said, ‘No, I’m not OK.’”
The Butler County Suicide Coalition is operating numerous programs throughout the month of September, which is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. They include two suicide prevention training events, one on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and the other on Wednesday, Sept. 30, both at the Butler Area Public Library.
Shoes representing those no longer here due to suicide, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Mily the therapy dog seeking love from all those she encounters, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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The fountain is covered by shoes, prior to the rally start, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karen Baker, Jimmy Baker, Lena Southworth, Pastor Joel Benson, Amy Cirelli, Amy Magill, Tara Hamilton, and Marni Rettig pose just before the start of the rally, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Kattie Doerr shows off her artwork that will be on display soon, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Shoes representing those no longer here due to suicide, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Jessica Comer is moved to tears, prior to her giving her own testimony, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A large crowd gathered to hear stories from those impacted by suicide, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Shoes representing those no longer here due to suicide, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Jessica Comer delivers a heart felt testimony about her own story, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karen and Jimmy Baker (looking away) speak to Pastor Joel Benson about their son Jake's story, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Pastor Joel Benson of Trinity Lutheran speaks on September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Pastor Joel Benson speaks as other speakers and hosts look on, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Shoes representing those no longer here due to suicide, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karen and Jimmy Baker( left and center) listen to a speaker as Jessica Comer watches, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Kattie Doerr showing her artwork that will receive personal notes and be on display soon, September 9, 2026, at Butler's Diamond Park, for the Suicide Remembrance Rally. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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