Gary Stephen Elliott

Gary Stephen Elliott, 56, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., passed away at his home October 31, 2017 surrounded by family. His death ended an 8.5 year journey against the odds, following complications due to a cardiac arrest in 2009. Gary was born April 9, 1961 in Little Rock, Ark. to Donald and Nancy Odle Elliott. He attended the NLR. Public Schools, graduating from Ole Main in 1979. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1984 from Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. While there, he met and married the mother of his two children, Brandon and Leah Elliott. Their mother, Lisa Brooks Elliott, sadly passed away earlier this year. Gary's quest for making a meaningful difference in medical research led him to Thousand Oaks in 1989 where he began a 20 year career doing what he loved for Amgen, Inc. - stretching his scientific mind by conducting experiments while listening to an eclectic array of music in the Flow Cytometry Lab. After raising his two young children as a single father, on October 14, 2002, Gary met and married Mia Franks and together with her two sons, Brandon and Kameron, became a husband and father who never ran out of fun things to do. At the young age of 27, Gary was diagnosed with the rare autoimmune disease, dermatomyositis, and his life was forever physically challenged. However, he remained the proud outlier, defying the odds, and continued to persevere for 29 years. He will be remembered by family and friends as a devoted loving son, amazing husband, father, brilliant scientist, avid fisherman and resilient human being. He spoke his mind, challenged the mainstream and had an uncanny wit matched with a wonderful sense of humor. The word, "can't" was always met with an inquisitive challenge. Gary is survived by his wife, Mia, of 15 years, son Brandon, daughter Leah, and Mia's sons, Brandon and Kameron, who he loved as his own. He is also survived by his family in Arkansas, mother Nancy and her husband, Bill Smith; brothers, Richard and Danny Elliott; sister, Donna Batte, plus many nieces and nephews. Gary was preceded in death by his father, Donald Elliott, and grandparents Harry and Dorothy Elliott and Ed and Tommie Odle. He is also survived by his children's nanny, Rosie Rincon of 26 years, and her husband, Ritchie, and their son, Michael Rincon, who all played a part in the care of Gary for many years. Gary was a member of Forty Seventh Street Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Ark. A memorial celebration of Gary's life was held on Sunday, November 12, 2017 at the Westlake Village Inn Lakeside Room. At Gary's request, he was cremated and a private, family ceremony was conducted at sea on Monday, November 13th at the Anacapa Island (his favorite fishing spot) where his ashes were buried. For those wishing to carryon Gary's passion for supporting discovery science, donations may be made to: The Discovery Center for Science and Technology, 107 N. Reina Road, #150, Newbury Park, Calif. 91320.