Gabriel Gabe Shawn Colston

To Gabriel Shawn Colston, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Gabe, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Gabe really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Gabe was born on February 27, 1976 at San Bernardino County Hospital in San Bernardino, California. His parents were Richard and Linnea Colston. Gabriel was raised in Yucaipa, California. Gabe had an older brother, Mike and a younger sister, Sara. Even as a child, Gabe had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention.

All of Gabe's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Gabe experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. From the time Gabe was born, he delt with the consequences of renal (kidney) disease due to a problem that developed well before he was born. while he bravely delt with this, he remained a productive, active young man who rarely, if ever, with the exception of needing to rest after dialysis treatments, let this interfere with his life, activities and relationships with his friends and family. Gabe received a kidney transplant at about age 13, which lasted approximately 15 years, during which Gabe enjoyed a relatively normal life.

Gabe simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Gabe, grades were very important, and he really did enjoy his school experience. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Gabe attended Yucaipa Christian School for his elementary years and was home schooled for his middle school years. He went on to attend Yucaipa High School where he graduated in 1994.

Gabe never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. Gabe utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Once someone got to know Gabe and became his friend, they were friends forever. While growing up, some of his best friends were Tom and David Pugel, Mike Bernardo and many of his cousins. Later in life, he became friends with Mike and Michelle Drivere and their children, Mike, Mykela and Miles; David Gutierrez; David Oswalt; Jennifer Crawford; Melanie Burmeister; his brother, Mike and his sister, Sara and her husband, Chris. Gabe loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

Gabe enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Gabe liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were radio control cars, fishing, pool, poker and photography. Gabe was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Gabe felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Gabe loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Gabe relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Gabe never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Gabe was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball, basketball and pro football.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Gabe recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. Gabe was a Christian.

Living life in the fast lane suited Gabe just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included going to Hawaii.

Gabe was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. Gabe loved his aquarium, which he had for 5 or 6 years.

Gabe passed away on July 16, 2010 at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California, after fighting a life long battle with end stage renal disease. He is survived by his parents, Richard and Linnea; his brother, Mike and his wife Dee and their children, Ezekiel and Elizabeth and his sister, Sara and her husband Chris. Services were held Thursday, July 22, 2010, at 10:00 AM, at Weaver Mortuary, 1177 Beaumont Ave, Beaumont, California. Gabe was laid to rest in Montecito Memorial Park, Colton, California.

Gabe brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist. While being realistic, Gabe always looked on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Gabriel Shawn Colston lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.