Dontay Sharrod Staples

Dontay was born April 3, 1985 in Greenville, Mississippi to Debra Staples and Gerald Smith.

Dontay moved to Texas as a child and completed his schooling in Houston. He graduated from Hastings High School in 2003 and maintained a lifelong loyalty to his Alief roots.

Dontay worked in industries including animal care and e-commerce. For the last five years he was employed as an order fulfillment specialist. He found meaning in his work and was a dedicated employee who truly enjoyed his both job and his fellow coworkers.

Dontay had a large family who he loved deeply. A frequent road-tripper, Dontay routinely travelled coast-to coast with his parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, to attend family parties. Whether it was celebrating a graduation or a birthday, Dontay was going to be in the mix. He forged tight bonds with many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was especially close with his mother, Debra Staples, and his sister, Diyana Staples. Dontay’s desire for travel took him to visit Diyana wherever she moved. Their relationship was a bond established the day he was born when they became each other’s first friends. Dontay enjoyed a heartfelt love for his parents and spent a great deal of time with his mom in recent years. They cultivated a vibrant mother-son-connection and successfully bridged the transition from child to friend in his adulthood. Dontay never hesitated to accompany her, whether on quick shopping trips or road trips, building memories that he held close to his heart.

Dontay especially loved mermaids. His love of these magical creatures began at a young age. His favorite was The Little Mermaid. He collected mermaid paraphernalia of all sorts. He was uncle to many children of his family, friends and neighbors and shared his passion by giving away mermaid-themed gifts including Ariel dolls and blankets shaped like mermaid tails. His love of the water was well known. Whether it was the ocean, a pool he set up in the backyard, Dontay was in the water. He was a gifted swimmer who took lessons throughout childhood which led to a lifelong comfort in the water. He could be seen demonstrating all strokes including a mermaid kick with ankles crossed to create a mermaid tail.

Dontay’s other primary passion was for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Not a football fan, he was known to say “a win for the Dallas Cowboys was a win for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.”

Dontay had a range of hobbies related to his incredible skills on land. With perfect pitch and a shocking memory for song lyrics and movie quotes, he enjoyed many musical, television and film genres. Pop music was his first favorite and he loved to dance as evidenced by the many videos that have been made by family and friends. Being physically active was important to Dontay, and he enjoyed working out, riding bicycles, and roller skating.

Dontay also spent time on his indoor passions. He was a voracious eater with an un-bougie palette who valued eating delicious foods like steak and fizzy drinks. As a child, he got to pick one movie per week at the local video store and cartoons were a foundational favorite that extended into adulthood. Video games also maintained a large role in his life. Games such as Kingdom Hearts were ones he found captivating.

Remaining to cherish Dontay’s memory are his immediate family including his Mother Debra Staples, Father Gerald Smith both of Houston, TX, Sisters Diyana (Alina Bennett) Staples of Lynnwood, WA, and Sister-in-law, Larissa Bennett of Spokane, WA.

Remaining on his mother's side are extended family: Uncle Albert (Rosie) Staples, Jr., of West Helena, AR; Aunts Jessie Jean (Sam) Smith, of Greenville, MS, Charlene (Junious) Allen, of Aurora, CO; Uncles Curtis (Azeb) Staples, and Nathaniel (Brinetta) Staples, of Los Angeles, Theresa (Stephen Melvin) Staples, of Aurora, CO; Uncle Joseph (Kristene) Staples, of, SC. Remaining on his father's side are extended family: Grandmother, Era Nell Smith of Greenville, MS, Aunts Rhonda Marie Ferguson of Southaven, MS, and Wilner Catherine (Kenneth) Smith-Hubbard of Jackson, MS, Uncles Cedric Fernand (LaVonne) Smith of Atlanta, GA, and Darryl Jerome Hall of Jackson, MS.

Welcoming Dontay into Paradise are Grandparents Albert and Emma Staples; Aunts Carrie Mae Brown, Faye Brothers, Josephine Carter; Uncles Otis Spencer and Willie Lane.

A celebration of life for Dontay will be held Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077, followed by a visitation from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Dontay’s name may be directed to the Houston Humane Society.