Dean Warner

DEAN WARNER

Oxnard, Calif.

Dean Howard Warner, 74, of Oxnard, Calif., passed away on Friday,

July 25, 2014, as a result of complications from leukemia, which he had been fighting for almost five years. Burial services are being handled by the Garcia Mortuary of Oxnard, Calif. There will be no funeral or memorial services at the request of the deceased.

Dean and Gene Elliot were born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on June 22, 1940, to DeVee and James Elliot. Gene died a few days later. Although born as an Elliot, Dean spent most of his life as Dean Warner after DeVee married Chuck Warner in 1946, growing up with his brothers Charles (Cindy), now of Colleyville, Texas, and Gary (Paula) of Cedar Rapids.

Dean spent the last 22 years with the love of his life, Pat Doan. Early in his adult life, he was married and is survived by three children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by both parents and several aunts and uncles.

Due to traumatic birth, Dean had many challenges to overcome: problems with speech, hearing, intellect and coordination. He and his parents would be told many times over the years of the variety of things Dean would never be able to do. However, through unyielding determination and constant support of family, friends and everyone around him who knew him, Dean graduated from Marion High School and took pride in being gainfully employed his entire life until retirement.

While in high school, academics were a great challenge for Dean. But that wasn't challenge enough, so he went out for the cross country team and participated in the state meet with that team when he was a senior. Considering some doctors questioned whether he would ever walk properly, this was an amazing accomplishment. He also loved to dance and learned all the latest steps as the rock 'n' roll music of the '50s took off. High school reunions were a great joy in Dean's life and he looked forward to the many he attended over the years. He enjoyed seeing all of his old friends and challenging many women to come out and see if they could keep up with the whirling dervish of the dance floor.

Dean never met anyone who he didn't consider a friend. And because he easily displayed open affection for those around him, that affection was returned a hundredfold. Dean would do anything for anybody at any time. And whenever he did something, he gave it everything he had, whether that was cleaning the house, washing dishes, taking care of disabled children, janitorial services or keeping track of inventory at home and at work.

The comment was often made that if people with many more natural capabilities tried half as hard as Dean and committed half as much energy to what needed to be done, there is no telling what we could all accomplish. Dean was dealt a poor hand at birth, but never accepted what others might have thought possible. He made his own path through life, determined to live the way he wanted and accomplish the things he knew he could accomplish, even if others sometimes doubted him. Dean was adored by many and will be greatly missed by all of us who came into contact with him and were able to share in his indomitable spirit to enjoy life to the fullest extent possible.