Daniel Jacob Elijah

Born on 5/4/1980, Daniel came to us, his forever family, through the blessing of adoption at 9 months old. We were his third family. He related well to the excitement of being with his three older siblings but had lots of insecurity at night when alone in his crib. At 2 1/2 he began to settle in, and we all slept easier at night.

He was such a cute, sweet, fun loving child. Everybody loved him. Teachers would tell me they wished they had a classroom full of Daniels. He was kind to others and had empathy. He was known to reach out and befriend kids who were not so well connected at school.

Daniel was a good athlete who played soccer, T ball, baseball, and basketball. He participated in the Carriage Lane swim team as well. But his favorite extracurricular activity was being drill team escort at Jersey Village High School. He said, "Who would want to get out there for a sport and get hurt when you could help out pretty girls?"

He was raised in the Lutheran Church, attended Sunday School, VBS, and was confirmed at Epiphany Lutheran in Jersey Village. He went on a mission trip to Guatemala with the youth group there and it touched his heart to help out in an orphanage. He had a beautiful voice and occasionally sang in church.

While in high school he worked as a lifeguard at our neighborhood pool. On payday, he was known to buy multiple pizzas to serve the kids who hung out there all day. In his adult life he joined the Coast Guard but came home early after repeated ankle sprains. Daniel worked on offshore oil rigs at first as a housekeeper, then a galley hand, then a cook. He enjoyed serving others and was proud of his culinary accomplishments and bringing joy and satisfaction to others with foods he prepared. He especially enjoyed seasonal work in cooler climates, working at Yellowstone National Park, other resorts in CO, WY, MT, and last pursuing a job in MN. He loved the Reba show and was thrilled to serve Reba McEntire and her boyfriend Rex at a ranch where he worked last year.

Life was not always easy in adult years for Daniel. And even despite medical concerns, he would try to regroup and get back on his feet again. He enjoyed crazy fun times with his nieces and nephew. He loved to get down on the floor and play with them. And of more recent times to challenge them to a video game or two. He exhibited quite a sense of humor. He loved to make others laugh and pulled some mischievous pranks, always in good fun and never with ill intent. He loved being around water, the mountains and cooler weather.

Daniel's memory will be cherished by his father and stepmom Bruce and Cathy Elijah, his Mom Mary Elijah, and his siblings, Alison Blair, Meredith Furch, Evan Elijah, and Grace Houston and their families. He loved hearing about and visiting his nieces and nephew; Yasman Weaver, Madison and Matthew Furch, Eliza Blair, and Brooklyn Elijah. He leaves behind many friends with whom he shared good times.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents Lester and Lorene Elijah, Edward and Evangeline Pentz, his cousin Sean Culver and his niece Kennedy Furch.

Though life will never be the same without him, let us cling to the memories of good times. When you take the opportunity to brighten someone's day, give a good hug, share something humorous, or help someone going through a rough time; you honor Daniel's memory.

Please no flowers. Daniel would feel good about doing something to help someone in need. (Besides, he was not fond of his mother's plants. LOL) If you wish to give a donation in Daniel's memory, please consider:

Chum Center,125 N 1st Ave W, Duluth, MN 55802

Chumduluth.org

Or Houston Food Bank, 535 Portwall St, Houston TX 77029

Houstonfoodbank.org

Visitation (10:00 am) and a service (11:00 am) to celebrate Daniel's life will be at:

Kinsmen Lutheran Church

12100 Champions Forest Dr.

Houston, TX 77066

Service will be live streamed as well for those unable to attend.

Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. -John 16:22