Dane Gill

Dane Levar Gill, beloved family member, friend, and faithful servant, passed away on July 8, 2026. Born on March 29, 1985, Dane lived a life marked by warmth, connection, faith, and a genuine love for people.

He attended Bellevue Public Schools kindergarten through high school. To further his education, he attended Bellevue Community College, then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington.

A man of faith, Dane was an active member of New Beginnings Christian Fellowship in Kent, Washington. He served faithfully in the greeting ministry, at the coffee bar, the outreach ministry, and other church events, offering his time, kindness, and welcoming spirit to his church community.

Dane was truly a people person. He had the rare gift of making others feel seen, welcomed, and valued, and he was blessed with many friends, both men and women, whose lives were enriched by his presence. Whether through conversation, laughter, encouragement, or simply showing up for others, Dane created meaningful bonds wherever he went across multiple ethnic cultures and generational groups.

Family was one of Dane’s greatest passions. He had a special way of bringing relatives together, even reconnecting family members who had not spoken or corresponded in years. His desire to see loved ones united reflected the depth of his heart and the importance he placed on forgiveness, togetherness, and lasting relationships.

Dane was the youngest of three children born to Jim and Sherry Gill. He dearly loved and fiercely defended his two older sisters, Kiara and Chaleia, who provided sibling guidance throughout his school years. Chaleia, in particular, had a memorable way of emphasizing the importance of following her instructions promptly and successfully, a family story remembered with a smile.

Dane also loved to travel. The travel bug took hold early: his first trip, to Disneyland in California, came when he was just six months old. His journeys later took him both across the United States and around the world, allowing him to experience new places, meet new people, and create memories that reflected his adventurous spirit and open heart. Along with the family his journeys included cruises through the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Baltic and North Seas, Indian Ocean and the Florida Keys. And numerous countries/cities in Europe, Turkey, Egypt, Iceland, Australia, and New Zealand. He would frequently mention that several of his friends would comment that he had led and was leading a charming life because his parents were still paying for family vacations even after he became an adult. Recounting those discussions with several of his friends, he said he would ultimately tell them, “I know I am spoiled in a lot of ways, but I make no apologies for that. You need to get over it”.

For entertainment, Dane enjoyed the arts, music, live theater, and sports. He often attended concerts, sporting events (all the Seattle teams and the Super Bowl), and arts shows in Seattle and in other cities across the United States. Volunteering with community charities was also an active part of his life. Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre and Issaquah’s Village Theatre were favorite places where he also served many times as an usher. A friend of his also recruited him to serve on the board of directors for a theatre in Renton where he assisted in raising funds for several major capital projects.

Professionally, Dane built a career as a billing specialist, working with several large law firms over the years. Most recently, he worked at Lane Powell, now Ballard Spahr, where he brought dedication and professionalism to his role.

Dane will be remembered for his loving heart, his joyful presence, his commitment to family, and his ability to connect people across distance, time, and circumstance. His life was a blessing to many, and his memory will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his Father Jim Gill, Sister Kiara Gill, Grandfather Raymond Wright, Sr., Grandmother Mary Rogers, and numerous Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, extended family and friends. He was preceded in transition by his Mother Sherry, Sister Chaleia, Grandfather Willie Rogers, Grandmother, Tarlene Wright, and Uncles Raymond Wright, Jr. and James (Jay) Wright.