David Elijah Steele
Grayback Forestry‚ Inc.‚ USDA Forest Service contractor – Oregon
Career Firefighter
Date of Death: August 5‚ 2008
Age: 19

David Elijah Steele of Ashland‚ Oregon‚ was born November 29‚ 1988‚ at Ashland Community Hospital‚ the first child to proud parents Paul David and Susanne Elizabeth Steele. David was a kind and fun-loving brother to his sisters‚ Christianne and Laurana‚ and his younger brother‚ Nathan. Baptized at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church‚ David loved to participate in youth activities and church outings and felt a strong bond and belief in the Lord. He attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and Ashland Middle School.

David graduated from Ashland High School in 2007‚ a standout member of the AHS football and rugby teams‚ and an avid snowboarder and wake boarder. Building strong and lasting friendships‚ David was known for his goofy humor‚ genuine warmth and easygoing nature. Friends would be heard to say‚ David always made your day a little bit better. They remembered David as a strong guy‚ a funny guy‚ and a soft-spoken giant.

This strength of character led David to follow his lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter. He joined Grayback Forestry as a wildland firefighter and enrolled in Central Oregon Community College in Bend‚ Oregon‚ to study structural fire science and pursue his emergency medical technician certification.

David was called to the Lord on August 5‚ 2008‚ in a tragic helicopter accident following a Grayback deployment to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest‚ where his crew successfully and heroically defended a critical fire line in steep and rugged terrain. David was loved and respected by his family‚ friends and community and will be missed dearly by all.

David is survived by his parents‚ Paul and Susanne Steele; two sisters‚ Christianne Steele and Laurana Steele; and one brother‚ Nathan Steele‚ who reside together in Ashland‚ Oregon; and his grandparents‚ Carol and John Endsley‚ Sally Steele‚ and Lloyd Steele.

David’s motto was‚ Live for nothing‚ or die for something – it’s your choice.