Elliot Michael Compton entered eternal life on Monday, March 1st, 2021 at the age of 27, leaving behind his family and two children. Elliot’s soul lives on through his father, Michael, his mother, Angela, his sister, Erica, his son, Parker, and his daughter, Violet, alongside several close relatives and friends from all walks of life.

We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Elliot over the years, among them, a few favorites:

“Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always make your own sunshine.”

“You can't change other people - change yourself.”

“Life is a video game, do what you have to do to win, just follow the rules.”

After everything, “all you got is family/love”.

Elliot was born on December 1st, 1993 in Kettering, Ohio to Michael and Angela (Neal) Compton. He displayed art talent early; when he was just two years old, he drew a recognizable image from the Star Wars films. In Kindergarten, he received the “Born to Draw” award. As he grew older, he developed his drawing skills, and decided during high school to focus on tattooing. Elliot even completed his father’s first tattoo, an image from one our family’s favorite movies - John Carpenter’s The Thing. Elliot also played tuba in the school band when in middle school. His band director recognized him as a “natural” at the instrument.

Elliot was a natural athlete from the beginning, and participated in every sport. He pitched a no-hitter baseball game, with 11 straight strikeouts, when he was just 10 years old. As a cub scout, he won the annual Pinewood Derby competition one year and finished in second place another year. He eventually concentrated on basketball, snowboarding, and his all-time favorite activity: skateboarding. As he began high school, Elliot would spend hours every day perfecting his kickflips, ollies, heelflips, and other challenging tricks.

Elliot was known for his sense of style and his good looks. He loved Vans shoes and Zumiez clothing. Shoe boxes and Zumiez packages would show up at the front door after most paychecks. He listened to all genres of music and believed that “a good song is a good song”. And, he was a “baller” at any video game.

He graduated from Elite Welding Academy in February 2020. Throughout school, his teachers were impressed by his tenacity towards his welding projects and his work ethic over the other students, so much so that they expressed genuine interest in helping him secure a job upon graduation. He graduated at the top of his class and quickly landed a job at United Group Services as a welding contractor, his last position working at Nucor Steel. He loved the welding career that he had built for himself.

In his lifetime, Elliot never wanted to be defined by his addiction and was always open about his struggles. He was fearless. He was feisty and outspoken but would do anything for anyone and always lit up the room with his smile and sense of humor. His strong attitude with a fierce drive and loving, beautiful heart for others is one of the many things he will be defined and remembered by - not his addiction.

Elliot wanted to live. He had dreams of buying a house with 12 acres, starting a farm, growing his family, and fought his battles hard until the end. He had plans to weld and follow pipelines across the country. Elliot is not just another statistic or “another one gone too soon”, he was a great heart with a bright future, with gifts that the world lost, never to be replaced. He will be sorely missed, but his surviving family members will tell his children about their father and live his legacy throughout their lives.

Elliot Michael Compton is at peace now. A private ceremony will take place in his honor soon.