Taken far too soon. RIP

Former *The Bachelor* candidate Hailey Merkt passed away at the age of 31 following a protracted fight with leukemia. “It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life,” read a statement that was released on her Instagram account to confirm her death.

Hailey’s boldness and tenacity were cherished memories. “With no regrets, she chose to spend her final moments with family and friends doing what she loved most,” the post read, characterizing her as “fully present in the present moment, highly entertaining, and never dull.”

Online, her former *Bachelor* co-stars expressed their sorrow. Danielle Maltby remarked, “I feel so lucky to know your laugh.” “You’ll be remembered forever,” said Raven Gates, and “I can’t believe I won’t see you again, but I’ll treasure every memory,” said Dominique Alexis.

Hailey faced ups and downs throughout her path. She declared herself to be “leukemia free” in April, but tragically, the illness came back a few weeks later. Her first response was to declare, “I don’t care about myself anymore, but I can’t bear being the cause of so much pain for the people I love,” according to her GoFundMe page, which was created by her mourning family members.