“What’s up, Mr. Shane”, he say EVERY TIME I saw him. The kid next door - a person you just knew the first moment you met him that you were not only going to like him but admire him. Laid back as it come but never let that manorism fool you. Yes he’d hang back in some conversation, uninterested in a few of my ramblings for sure but man when you hit on a subject - he wanted in and like a spark he brought energy like no other to that conversation! We’d play games - he and my two boys who they became unseparatable for a time when we were neighbors - and with Dean you always knew where he stood, which games he loved and which he was like 2 min in… “nope I’m out”, he’d say. Loved that transparency and the way he lived. Two quick stories - though we had many - He had just got a jet ski and wanted to tester out…. I had many hours driving one so they truth in me to drive - he and his mom . After a couple of small tows to get the feel he yells “LET ME HAVE IT”-( Think we know he could be a little daredevil-ish) -I looked over to his mom and she gave the nod- and I whipped that boy around a turn one time and he skipped off that thing tumbling . I stopped looked back and he was grinning ear to ear with a big ol thumbs-up ….living life to the fullest! -Speaking of boys being boys- there was the time he was skateboarding and broke his arm - I happen to be driving by right after it must of happened and he is nonchalantly sitting there on the curb….. “WHATS UP MR SHANE”…as his arm was hangling backwards as he tried to initiate a conversation…. “What up with you??!!!!” …..”I think I might have broke my arm” … the shock I could see starting to set in but the Laid back kid took it in stride as he did through out his life with grace and sincere love for others! We are blessed to have met and spent many hours of our lives with him and his mother and had many great moments - He will be greatly missed.
Let the memory of Dean be with us forever.
Dean De La Cruz Graham is a truly beautiful soul, and anyone fortunate enough to know him can count themselves lucky. He attended Lake Travis High School and went to college at The University of Texas at San Antonio. He was a loving son and a loyal friend. He was unique in so many different ways. Dean approached everything with the mindset that he would put 100% of himself into it. He even took immense pride playing on the fraternity Flag Football team; He had a notebook full of plays for the games. He had curly voluminous hair that you could spot from a mile away. His infectious jolly laugh was also something you could hear from a mile away. And when he hugged you, he really hugged you. He loved so hard. He loved to lift weights and get pumped. He loved to hike, play basketball, ski and really anything that had his body moving and was outside. He even loved frisbee golf. He also slept in… a lot. He could set 100 alarms and manage to turn them off fully in REM sleep. He had a love of music. His taste was wide-ranging, from Sinatra to EDM to 90s rap and all the way to country. He also had a special place in his heart for jazz. He got very aggravated by bad drivers. He couldn’t stand a lack of authenticity and people pretending to be something they aren’t. He prized being true to yourself. But he did LOVE UT football and the Cowboys. His curiosity was a defining feature of his personality. He was protective and had a way of making you feel safe and defended. And as for his family, he was in awe of his father. He wanted to be just like him, just as adventurous and daring. He talked about his burning desire to make him proud. He adored his mother. The joy and excitement that poured out of him came from her. He had unwavering love for his girlfriend, Saylor. His friends were everything to him. He surrounded himself with so many people but managed to have a special place in his heart for each and every one of them, whether they were from high school or college. He dreamed of ending up somewhere in the mountains, so that he could ski to his heart's content. He said he had never felt more free than when he was doing that. And if he could do anything in this world, it was his mission to dive into the great barrier reef before it lost its' beauty. Dean had so much energy that it would burst out of him and you could see the excitement in his eyes. It filled whatever room he was in. No one ever matched his one of a kind energy. Being loved by Dean is a gift that not many experience; As not many people love the way he did. His light and his love was so pure and so kind, that he will stay with us always.
Resting place · Dean's Home, Johnson City, TX
Honor Dean
A gesture of sympathy in their memory.
Some links are affiliate links — Memorygram may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Photos & media
View gallery ›
