Derek Bliss

Our beloved son and brother, Derek Bliss passed away on August 20, 2025 in San Diego, California. He was born on January 28, 1988 in San Diego, California. Derek is survived by his father, Richard D. Bliss, mother, Doris J. Bliss, sister, Morgan Bliss (Tim), brother, Zachary R. Bliss, and many family and friends, all of whom dearly loved Derek.

Derek was a unique, smart and beautiful person. He loved to read and to explore. He was a very humble person. He loved learning how machines worked by taking them apart. The older something was, or maybe even a little broken, the better. He liked to take something old and make it work and make it beautiful again. He did this with many things, most notably a beautiful old wooden chair he found in the garbage, and a beautiful old broken Honda motorcycle. He took scrap pipe and scrap wood and made two beautiful tables. He was so polite and respectful to everyone he encountered. He always opened every door for ladies, and gave so many small things in life that it added up to a mountain of gifts.

As a young child and adult, he was always cracking jokes and making his friends and family laugh. One time he adopted a tarantula that he found outside. He cried so hard when he saw that it had died in the habitat he had made for it, and then by surprise he rejoiced when he discovered days later that it had only molted in the aquarium. He brought home a pet duck one day and named it Teddy Freddie. It used to fly over to the neighbor's pool.

He loved music, art and writing. He sang and played the bass guitar in a band as a teenager. He also loved to play the upright bass. His love and passion for art and music continued as an adult. After he graduated from high school, he spent time traveling and living in Australia. While there, he worked for a youth hostel in Byron Bay. He then traveled and lived in Hawaii where he worked at Kalapawai cafe in Kailua and enjoyed living with his community of friends. He went on to earn an Associate of Art degree with a major in communications and humanities with Honorable Mention from Grossmont College. He also enjoyed motorcycles very much, and graduated from the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix, as a Harley Davidson mechanic.

He suffered loss early in life when his high school sweetheart passed away at a young age. Derek experienced many near death experiences during his life. He had his guardian angel watching over him, along with our family and his friends, keeping him with us for so many years. He was physically, mentally and emotionally very strong. He loved intensely and was wise beyond his years. He did not value material objects and rejected many of society's norms, instead valuing community. He did dream of one day owning land and perhaps living in an old Victorian house.

He made friends easily, and was constantly seeking out deep social connections. He helped countless people in so many ways. He safely drove children to school as a school bus driver in Arizona. He saved lives by being a plasma donor. He helped people on some of their hardest days while he was a tow truck driver. He taught those around him about resilience, love and compassion. He was a loving son, brother, and friend to all. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He will be greatly missed and will be with us in our hearts forever.