Tanner Martin's public funeral pays tribute with Star Wars hymn and final video goodbye

Utah-based YouTuber Tanner Martin, who recently passed away after his long battle with colon cancer, was laid to rest on July 5, 2025. He was 30 and was first diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2020, according to a report in The Daily Mail.

During his funeral ceremony, held at a chapel in American Fork, attendees wore Star Wars regalia to honor Martin’s memory, as encouraged by his wife in a social media post shared weeks before his death.

She wrote:

“All those who attend the funeral are invited to wear something Star Wars in honor of Tanner - ties, pins, stickers, our custom Rebels Against Cancer shirts with other formal wear.”

According to a report in The Salt Lake Tribune, when Tanner Martin's family entered the chapel, they were greeted by a musical compilation that blended the orchestral score from Star Wars with the Latter-day Saint hymn, If You Could Hie to Kolob.

He reportedly announced his death in a video that was shared by his wife, Shay Wright, on June 25 on Instagram. Wright and Martin welcomed their daughter through in vitro fertilization– AmyLou, 41 days before his death on May 15, 2025, as per Hollywood Life.

Here are the details of Martin’s final video.

All we know about Tanner Martin’s final video goodbye

Days before his death, Tanner Martin decided to share a pre-recorded message through his wife, Shay Wright, on Instagram. In the video, which was uploaded on June 25, 2025, the 30-year-old influencer addressed his followers directly and said:

“Hey, it’s me, Tanner, if you’re watching this, I am dead. I had a heck of a life. I decided to make this video announcing my death because I saw someone did that, like, a year or so ago, and I think it’s a good opportunity to get all your thoughts out.”

He continued:

“Life was awesome. I really enjoyed it while I was here. Hopefully, I believe there’s something after this. I’m excited to meet those people, and hopefully we’re hanging out now and making fun of all you nerds.”

He gave a huge shout-out to his fans for their support and “helping to make the last years of his life fun and enjoyable” while also making him feel “comfortable.”

In another video, Tanner Martin encouraged his followers to donate to a GoFundMe to support Wright and their daughter. He and his wife have shared his journey following his cancer diagnosis in 2020 when he was 25 years old.

In an eulogy delivered at his funeral on July 5, his father, Thomas Martin, said that it “is an honor and pleasure to be his dad- and it still is.” He said that during his last week, he, his brother, Spencer, and Martin watched the original Star Wars trilogy.

He is survived by his wife, Shay Wright, his newborn daughter, AmyLou, his mother, father, and brother.

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