Caleb James Burrows

Caleb James Burrows of Indianapolis Indiana, known to many by his nickname “Moist”, tragically died in a motorcycle crash on September 11, 2025, while traveling on Interstate 70 in the greater Indianapolis area.  He was thirty-three years old.

Caleb was born on October 17, 1991 in Kissimmee FL and was raised in Lakeland Florida, graduating from Lake Gibson High School in 2010. Growing up, Caleb enjoyed playing soccer and percussion in the marching band, as well as tinkering with all things automotive-related.  After high school he enlisted in the US Army Reserves as a Motor Transport Operator (88M), and was ordered to active duty in 2011 in support of Operation New Dawn, where he conducted convoy operations during the exit and the end of U.S. major combat operations in Iraq.  For his service, Caleb was awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star.

After his return to Florida from overseas service, Caleb explored several career paths, including automotive and nautical sales, aviation mechanics, physical therapy, and construction.  In 2021, he relocated to Indianapoli,s where he began working as a Forklift Operator at Premier Packaging and was promoted to Production Supervisor in 2022.  In November 2021, Caleb met Shelby Hall and the couple experienced an immediate and natural comfort, ultimately describing each other as the best thing that had happened in their lives. They were engaged in September 2024, with the wedding planned for October 15, 2025.

Caleb enjoyed golfing, fishing, camping, but above all riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.  On May 25, 2022, he was “patched in” to the CVMA® IN 14-5 Chapter and served as the Chapter Secretary in 2023 and Chapter Sergeant at Arms in 2024 and 2025 until his death.  Known as “Moist”, Caleb helped others leave their stress at the door, encouraging them to enjoy the moment and resulting in laughter and countless lifelong stories.  He is remembered for his “no nonsense” approach to maintaining order among members, both within his Chapter and across the state, and his focus on improvement of the organization for other combat Veterans.

Throughout his life, Caleb possessed a unique ability to overcome adversity and relentlessly to help others, doing it all with a wink and a smile.  He was a man of dependability, compassion and strength – the kind of person who would drop everything to help, whether you were stranded on the highway or just needed someone to listen.  When Caleb first moved to Indiana, he experienced a snowstorm unlike anything he had seen before. His immediate response was to buy snow chains, not just for himself but to help others who might slide off the road. Above all, Caleb loved to laugh, with a personable and disarming demeanor and natural gift for brightening any room he entered. No matter the circumstance, Caleb’s unwavering “glass half full” outlook had a way of always lifting spirits and spreading joy.

Caleb is survived by his fiancé Shelby Taylor Hall and the Hall family; his parents Bradley Jay Burrows and Karen Arlene McCabe Burrows;  his brother Isaac Jay Burrows (sister-in-law Lauren Ann Burrows, nephew Wesley Peter Burrows, niece Cora Jane Burrows, nephew Elliott McCabe Burrows); his brother Noah John Burrows (sister-in-law Nannan Burrows, nephew Elijah John Burrows and nephew Clay Isaiah Burrows); sister Anna Arlene Burrows DeBruyn (brother-in-law Alex DeBruyn); and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Caleb is preceded in death by his four grandparents: Henry Frank McCabe, JoAnn Shelton McCabe, Wilbur George Burrows, and Velma Heineman Burrows.

Visitation will be held from 1:00pm-3:00pm at O’Riley-Branson Funeral Service & Crematory on Thursday, September 18, 2025. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, September 19, at 9:30am in the funeral home, followed by burial at Marion National Cemetery in Marion, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Burrows and Hall families GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/caleb-burrows.

Please visit www.orileybranson.com to leave a memory of Caleb or to sign the online guest book.