Brendan A Willett

Brendan was born in Ellensburg, September 30, 1988, and he grew into a young man who was always full of ideas, drive and loaded with love. He played baseball, soccer, and wrestled but his love was snocross racing from 8 years of age until he was 17. While in high school, most who knew him would recall that he had a 1972 VW bus that he restored from the ground up with a dear friend, Mark Correa, who took him under his wing to teach him all he knew, earning Brendan the nickname, "Hot Rod". This name stuck with him and was very fitting.

He graduated from Cle Elum/Roslyn High School in 2007, taking a family vacation before leaving for Navy boot camp. He served short term, going through his schooling in Mississippi, and then he was stationed on the USS Lincoln in the Persian Gulf. When he left the Navy he returned home to work for a few family members, Willett's construction, Willett's Tile, etc., and he went to school to earn his CDL. He drove trucks for a while, but always tried to come up with ideas to invent something that would be his answer to life. Soon he ran into a friend who gave him an opportunity that he jumped on; working for Nelson Creek Construction in western Washington and he quickly moved in with his Uncle John in Kenmore. He focused on his health and spirituality, and found that he loved yoga and martial arts. He said it allowed him to achieve the best health he had ever been in. No matter what Brendan did he was good at it; a naturally gifted young man who maintained a positive outlook on life; he was never without ideas about how to pursue life in a positive way.

Soon after his cousin Brittney passed away, the lease ran out on the place in which he and his Uncle John had been living so he packed what he could in his Chevy Cavalier and drove to North Dakota, not knowing anyone, but arriving ready for work. In two days he was driving trucks, and within two months he landed the oil rig job that he left home to obtain. Absolutely thrilled with life, he learned quickly and excelled, moving onto a rig where he was one of 40 people hired to build a new rig from the ground up. He was amazing to talk to during this time while he was taking in all that he was learning and was so amazingly excited for his success. Traveling back and forth from North Dakota, he was always ready to get out and see all his friends. He worked hard, but of course, he played harder, and he always made certain to be home for Sunday family dinners. Having so much love to share, he never ceased to share it, taking to his nephew Landon Willett from day-one and embracing not only his role as "Unk", (and the best "Unk"), but being a best friend and mentor; teaching Landon all that made him what he is today.

Brendan absolutely loved adventure and his motorcycle was his pride and joy. In fact, he converted his bike with a Timber sled kit and would call his step dad, Don Owens, every chance he could to get him away and head for the hills. He never did anything half way; it was 110% or nothing. There was nothing he could not do, whether it was riding horses, motorcycles, wakeboarding, athletics, acrobatics, etc. He was truly gifted and it shone in him, and in his amazing art work (many will recall his drawings and tattoos). Brendan also hunted with his grandpa, dad David, family and friends all his life and, in more recent years, became fond of turkey hunting. His most recent adventure was with his sisters Lutisha and Mady, and dad Don.

Brendan's beautiful soul energized the room and those around him, filling them with laughter and the power of positive thinking. Although we are far from ready to say goodbye, The Lord has taken him from us to join his Uncle John Johnson, Cousin Brittney Deter, Mormor Madeleine Bratt, Grandpa Farrell Willett, Grammy Katy Hoyt and so many more. He is survived by his mother Kristina Owens & Don Owens, his father David Willett & Laurie Willett, his sisters Tiffany, Lutisha and Madysen and step-sisters Stephanie and Meghan, Aunt Yvette, cousins Navarre, Sakiya, Shenoa, Sofia & Kiona, Aunt Molly and Cousin Courtney Deter, Grandma ReAnn, Aunt Pam Coe, Cousins Justin and Ryan Fowler, Uncle Randy Willett & Aunt Kathy, Cousins Shane, Cori, Cody, Melanie, Willett; Uncle Jim Willett and Cousins Nathan and Brandy Willett, along with too many more to name. Please join us in a celebration of Brendan's life on June 28th, 5:00 pm, at Cle Elum/Roslyn Middle School. His cremation arrangements under the direction of Cascade Funeral Home, Cle Elum, WA.