Birth date: Jan 6, 1955 Death date: Aug 8, 2023
Chris Eliason Obituary Chris "Eli" Eliason, 68, of Wahiawa, Hawaii, passed away on August 8, 2023. He was born on January 6, 1955 in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. He is survived by wife, Leilani Elizabeth Eliason; son, Philip Gamia Read Obituary
I never punched a drill sergeant, and Eli threw the bills in trash….I wanted to clarify, I messed up cause my eyeballs started to sweat. Eli and I had many adventures, most of them road trips. Driving back from Kansas in the Beast, to middle of the night trips to Nags Head, N.C.. Our humor was very similar and he taught me almost everything I know about cars. He was a B.F.A.M…….Brother From Another Mother!
I called Eli once from a pay phone at Ft. Knox KY. when I was there for O.S.U.T. In 1984. I told him that I had been kicked out for hitting a drill sergeant and I needed a ride home, he lived in Portsmouth, VA., he said….I’ll leave in the morning. Not, I can’t miss work or maybe this weekend….I’ll leave in the morning. Eli, Buck and I lived together for awhile in Portsmouth, VA. in the late 70’s. One Friday ,after work, Eli was holding a stack of bills in one hand and money from his paycheck in the other. He looked at me and said, bills are always gonna be there let’s go party, he threw aside and we took off for a night of reckless abandon! You are missed my Brother, Dale Cherry.
Reading all these memories of my brother Chris brings tears and joy to my heart. He touched so many lives. His perpetual smile and jokes and caring for others certainly left a lasting impression. He indeed was a very special person and will be missed by many. Love you, bro!
We're gonna miss you papa! thank you for taking care of my grammy all these years â¤ï¸
I met Chris in 2003 when he and my mom moved to Hawaii. We became a blended family. He became Papa Chris to my daughters. He was always willing to participate in the fun activities I had plan during our family gatherings. He enjoyed eating the Chamorro food that I would make during the Holidays. He was always chill and never complained. He had a big heart. He will be missed. Rest in peace Chris- see you when I get there.
I met Eli in '76. I believe he lived on King Street. John Olson and I used to ride our bikes over there all the time. Eli, Bill Steward, and Dale Cherry would always be working on cars. Eli was a very good mechanic, that is one thing I can say, and he really enjoyed it. We had a lot of good times and a lot of hellacious parties. You will be missed, Brother. Until we see each other again..Love you, man..And don't forget to change the air in the tires!John Laxton
I met Chris as a child when he first started dating my mom, Leilani. As far back as I can remember, he always had jokes to crack and things to teach me. Everything I know about boats, fishing, cars, electronics, Rock N Roll, using power tools, etc. was passed down from him. He’s also the only parent I had that would sit down with me and help me with all of my homework. I remember all the times he would pick me up from the skatepark and wait around a bit to let me get a little more skate time in. We didn’t always get along. I was a stupid kid, I often held that “you’re not my dad†kind of attitude. But looking back as an adult, I’m forever grateful for all the things he took the time to teach me. Last Father’s Day I was able to tell him how much he helped mold me into a man, to which he responded with “I’m proud of youâ€. He was always the kind of guy to never ask for anything, but do anything for others who needed it. I’m proud to have had someone like him as my dad.
Gone but NEVER forgotten
I will never forget the man who took in a 19 year old who moved to Portsmouth on a whim. The girl who brought me was the daughter of one of his ex-girlfriends. Here I am in a city where I literally know no one but he didn't even blink. Can't imagine what could have happened to me otherwise. I will forever be grateful. "Eli" you will always be thought of with gratitude and friendship.
Eli 's house (Chris..in Portsmouth VA he was known only as Eli) back in my first days, also known, even to my Mom as one word "WillieKeithandElis", was where everyone in Portsmouth went on any given weekend. It became known as THE place to be.But there was a core group of us that was special-we were Family. The self created one none of us had. Eli had a special place in that family. He was, and always will be The Big Brother, to me and to all of us. Our running joke, from a birthday card I once gave him, was "no matter how old you get, I'll always be younger!"Never did I anticipate this. Not this early. I always thought I would see him again.He was the one we always went to for advice. He was the one that gave it at times whether we wanted it or heeded it or not! He was the one that worked or helped work on all of our cars or trucks. He even gave me his to drive while he worked on mine. As much and hard as he worked he was always there to help his friends. He was also the funny one, the goofy one, the crazy one, the first one to crack a joke..and if times were hard, or after the cry, or advice and wisdom given, you could bet there would be a joke- and that grin and laugh and smile...usually accompanied by further sage wisdom such as F em all but 7 and save 1 for a ham sandwich!(still wonder about that one but it sounded good..and made you laugh)Eli was pretty mischievous as well..the stories I can tell , and will, and continue to tell the rest of my life..Martin Ave (says a ton right there), Harborfest and the "Bud Heads", his infamous Halloween parties, boating, fishing, Neil Young concert, the "E" from the cleaners by 7-11 (you had to be there) the day at the beach that ended up to be a ride to Knotts Island(Wil, Dale...)...along with a ticket or 2 or 3 and maybe a trip to court , our brilliant "we'll drink wine and we wont get as drunk" ..hmmm..It was never clear who was the instigator- me or him . I think it was pretty much 50/50 but we'll say neither of us ever got our arm twisted very much!He was the glue that held this group/family together in Virginia. Even when he would visit, he was still doing that.Then he went West and reconnected and reunited with the beautiful Leilani and he formed another beautiful family that I was blessed to be included in and bare witness to. And more great times were had..the three of us..living/visiting on boats in California, cruising and strolling Santa Monica Blvd, him laughing at Leilani and I, driving across the desert to Vegas and Leilani laughing at the Vegas "newbies" that had to go out on one of the 4 torrentially raining nights that Vegas only has a whole 4 times a year..we didn't care..he carried me piggy back in the flooded streets and I held the umbrella!, beaches, tatoos and sunsets at Mission Beach...Eli, You and all of that and more are forever with me and a part of me and my heart and my soul and who I am. People like him in our lives are that..they are part of us.Forever and Always. There are few genuine people, friendships and self created family in this crazy world like this. I am blessed to have had it. My life is better and the World is better for you having been in it.Long May You Run, My BrotherLove You AlwaysYour little sisMichelle
