Dana Norman Rates Jr.

Dana Norman Rates Jr, 42, passed away June 16, 2023, at St. Joes Hospital in Bellingham WA due to upper respiratory failure. He was born January 23, 1981, in Seattle WA to Nora Marie Rates & Dana Norman Rates Sr. He grew up & was raised within a 5-mile radius of where he was born. He resided in Seattle for 40 years before moving to Bellingham in 2021 to be closer to his older brother Mike, his sister-in-law & her family.

Dana attended Nathan Hale High School & graduated in June 1999. He was the only one of his siblings to have graduated high school. Dana was a social butterfly & was able to get himself a job working at the Children’s Museum in Seattle where he proudly worked for over 10 years. From day one, Dana had many struggles in life due to spina bifida and other health issues, but he always lived life to the fullest. He always loved going places whether it was to go shopping at the mall, going out to eat, or to a sporting event. He loved watching football (go Seahawks), baseball (go Mariners) and wrestling. In his free time, he enjoyed putting jigsaw puzzles together, playing board games, doing various art project, and spending time with friends & family. Everyone who met Dana, got to know just how charismatic & special he was. He had the heart & mind of a child; always curious, always wanted to learn new things, always full of love & kindness. He had such a great sense of humor and loved to razz those he was close to.

Dana was predeceased by his parents Nora & Dana Rates, and his older sister Kathy Marie Evans. He is survived by his brother & sister-in-law Mike & Amber Evans of Blaine WA, his brother Bill Evans of Soap Lake WA, his Aunt Fredericka Hedwiga Maria Nordeen of Port Orchard, his Uncle Gabor Gardonyi of Maupin OR, his sister-in-law’s family Gene, Yolanda & Crystal Voorhies, and an abundance of friends.

Dana was a warrior in life. A true inspiration and special person. He will live on in the hearts & minds of all those who knew him. He will be deeply missed and always loved.

Dana’s funeral/memorial service will be held at Evergreen Washelli in Seattle WA on Tuesday June 27, 2023 at Noon.