Landon Joseph Russell left this earth much too soon on Friday, June 26, 2015, in Beaumont, TX. Landon was born in Springdale, Arkansas on January 8, 1995, and was raised in Beaumont and the surrounding area.
A celebration of Landon’s life will be held on Saturday, July 4, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Claybar Kelley-Watkins Chapel with interment to follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. A gathering of family and friends will be on Friday evening, July 3, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Serving as pallbearers will be Brandon Russell, Aaron Martin, Cole Michalk, Dylan Potter, Damian Mann and Philip Deane McIntyre. Honorary pallbearers will be Robert McCurley and Chase Petree.
Landon was a 2013 graduate of West Brook High School, where he was an excellent marksman in the ROTC. Though one of his ultimate ambitions was to join the US army, Landon was an employee of Trans-Global Solutions, Inc. and was excited about having just received a promotion. He really liked his job and always talked about how great the crew was that he worked with. He thought of them as family.
Landon began a love for travel as a young boy with his parents, grandparents and siblings. He experienced things most people are never fortunate to experience: seeing a bear in Gatlinburg, touring a cockpit with an airline captain, white water rafting in both Canada and Mendenhall Glacier, panning for gold in Juneau, spotting whales in the north Pacific, and so many other places and adventures.
Landon loved sports. As a young boy, he played soccer, Little League baseball and basketball. He loved swimming, camping, fishing, dirt bike racing, and off road mudding in his truck. He loved to work out and body build. But, the love of his life was football! When he wasn’t playing on the field, he was playing Madden on Xbox. Most recently he played receiver/quarterback on a local alumni football team, the Hawks. He was so passionate about the game that he even practiced one time with a broken arm and caught every pass with one hand. He was greatly loved and respected by his coach and teammates. It was a mutual love, respect and admiration.
Landon was a true lover of all genres of music, changing throughout his life from one style of music to another: from the Beatles when he was young, to country music, hip-hop, rap and heavy metal. He loved singing and rapping and would perform with his mother’s group, My Beautiful Disaster, as often as possible at many local venues, where the crowd loved him.
No matter how athletic and hard-working Landon was, he had a true sweetness, kindness and playfulness about him from the time he was born. He had a smile that would never end, and he loved to entertain those around him and make them laugh. He was THE life of the party. His favorite persona was the Joker, because of his humor and demeanor, and he displayed his love for the Joker proudly. He would do anything for a laugh whether sticking his tongue out, wearing a dress or daisy duke costume. And, boy did he walk through the door wearing some interesting things!
No one ever met Landon that didn’t like him. He had more friends than he could count, which is good, because he always wanted to be surrounded by people. And, he was. He was constantly surrounded by not only his parents, grandparents, sisters and brother, but also multiple uncles, aunts, cousins, and, of course, friends.
Landon was truly loved so dearly by his family and friends. There are so many who have shared how much Landon lifted them up when they had nowhere else to turn. He loved everyone and treated everyone the same regardless of their race, ethnicity or status in life. He was accepting of all and encouraged all to never give up.
Landon is survived by his mother, Tara Latil and husband, Kristopher; father, George E. Russell, Jr.; grandparents, Gail Boling, George Russell, Sr., Larry and Mercy LaRousse, Richard and Lana Audilet; great grandmother, Marion Latil; brother, Brandon Russell; and sisters, Veronica Russell, Remingtyn Russell. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, John Boling; grandmother, Dale Taylor; aunt, Tana Crocker and uncle, Kevin LaRouse.
The family would like to thank the community and friends for their outpouring of love. We could never have made it through without your support and prayers.
Our hearts will never be whole until we are together again. We know you are absolutely soaring high, sweet Landon. You always said, “Go Big, or Go Home.”