OBITUARY: Dan Myers who has died aged 23

The former York shopworker leaves behind girlfriend, Celine Lea, who is pregnant with their first child, and her son Marley, as well as mother Di Dowker and brothers Oli, his twin, and Ryan.

Di said Dan took his own life. She said he had many friends and would leave a "massive, massive void" in all their lives.

READ MORE: "Don't suffer in silence" - York dad-to-be dies aged 23

At his funeral at York Crematorium on April 12, York celebrant Fiona Brown shared these precious memories about Dan's life...

"Daniel was born on November 7, 1997 and was older than his twin brother, Oliver, by one minute. When he was little, Daniel was known to the family as Danny, though by the time he went to school, Danny insisted on being known as Dan.

Dan with his twin brother Oli

The name certainly fitted his character. Dan was a cheeky chappie and a little mischief-maker but his endearing smile got him out of all sorts of scrapes.

As a baby, Danny was, in Diane’s words “amazing”. He was so content and happy. She said she could have coped with triplets, if they had all been like Danny. It was only when the terrible twosomes hit, that Danny’s naughtier side rose to the surface – and in the beginning the instigator of that was Oliver!

The twins were as alike as two peas in a pod. Even Diane had difficulty telling them apart. They did everything together. Where one was, the other would be and trouble was never far behind them! Where Oliver was the mastermind, Dan was the action man – though he would never realise the danger of some of the escapades, or how much trouble he would get into!

The list of misadventures is long and covers minor mishaps like hiding keys, to covering the leather sofa in Sudocrem, to running out of the house completely naked.

Diane achieved a few hours peace when the boys went to Phoenix Nursery. However, the angelic-looking older twin, soon showed his mischievous colours and like, Loki, of Norse mythology, conjured up all sorts of trouble! Dan didn’t get any better behaved in Park Grove primary. Fortunately the headmaster, Mr Calverly, had the patience of a saint with him.

Dan loved amusement parks and always made a beeline for the most dangerous ride he could get on at Flamingo Land, or Euro Disney.

Dan with mum Di and brothers Oli and Ryan

In later years, Megan, (Ryan’s daughter) would join Diane, Nanna and the twins on holiday to Skegness and Fantasy Island was always a highlight – especially for Dan! Dan, the danger-man, was scared of nothing!

As Oliver remembered, his mischievous twin was a one-man army, who could get himself into all sorts of scrapes, with no thought of the potential difficulty he was getting himself into. Nothing frightened Dan, even when he went to secondary school. Where the younger years kowtowed to the older children, Dan didn’t hold his tongue or curb his behaviour.

Diane did try to burn off some of Dan’s energy with various clubs and the boys always enjoyed camping with cubs and scouts. Family holidays were often spent under canvas too and Nanna often joined them. Dan was very close to his Nanna. She was very much part of the boys’ lives, as she helped to raise them whilst Diane worked.

Many holidays were also spent at the seaside. Dan especially enjoyed the times at Sand-Le-Mer. There was a huge fishing lake there and by the time he had joined secondary school, Dan had taught himself to fish. He would take all his gear on holiday with him and the first stop, on arrival, would be to the maggot shop.

Dan would be up at the crack of dawn each morning and would be found for the rest of the day, quietly fishing. He taught Oliver how to fish but when Oliver got his first catch, he had no idea what to do with it. That was left to Dan to deal with.

Dan loved the water and taught himself to swim and do handstands in it. He was a real water baby. Dan loved fish and when they were little, the twins had pet goldfish, although they didn’t live to a grand fish age and were buried in a sweet tin in the garden.

Dan with mum Di

There are so many stories of Dan’s escapades at secondary school. Oliver was a star pupil, a prefect no less. Dan however was perfect at getting into mischief. Many a time Oliver had to get him out of scrapes. The only time Oliver got into trouble was when he was getting Dan out of it! Ryan, their older brother by 11 years, must have been glad that he had left secondary school by the time the twins got there!

There was a great deal of love between the three brothers and laughter too. Like the time Dan scared a window cleaner nearly off his ladder by appearing at the window in his Scream mask! As Diane said “Dan’s left us with some memories, bless him!”

Leaving secondary school, Dan briefly went to college on an apprenticeship painting and decorating course. However, he didn’t think much of the meagre wages so left to pursue a different career at The Grand Hotel in York, as a porter. Some time later, he progressed from there to work as a barman at The Salvation and just prior to lockdown was working for Londis. It was here that he met Celine.

Dan with Celine

It was love at first sight. Celine was smitten by his smile and his unique “strut”. Before long they were dating and nothing, not even Covid, could separate them. Dan moved in with Celine and took her young son, Marley, into his heart. Boy and man had a very special bond and Dan loved the times he got to tuck Marley into bed. Dan’s caring nature endeared him, not only to Celine, but to her family too. They could see how much Celine and Marley meant to Dan and that made them really happy.

Dan with Celine and her son Marley

Celine found out that she was pregnant last month and it seemed like Dan had finally found true happiness. He had a perfect family and the love of his life was by his side. The cruel hand of fate has ripped them apart but they will always be together in Celine’s heart and Marley and the new-born will grow up being told what a lovely, caring, kind, funny and generous-natured man, Dan was.

On Celine’s behalf I read this tribute :

"I’ve fancied Dan for a very, very long time, and then one day he popped up to me and we started talking.. every single day, then it moved onto phone calls for like five hours straight! Then we planned for him to come round to mine.. oh it was love at first sight. I think we both fell for each other pretty instantly.

He was the BEST step dad to Marley and I couldn't have thanked him anymore for making him the happiest little one he is! The way he used to tuck Marley into bed and Marley would force a kiss off him and Dan would give him the biggest hug ever before sleep time.

I will always remember our family dances around the house to old classics and old school disco songs like Crazy Frog and Dan teaching Marley the ways of drum and bass!

I will always appreciate us, ALWAYS, saying I love you. I love you more. I love you most, and so on, cheesy but cute.

When I got him the music box with Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t help falling in love', he wouldn’t stop playing it, every single day and before bed he'd say “come here”. I’d lay on his chest and he'd wind the music box until we went to sleep. I will treasure that box forever.

So, so many memories! But the BEST memories of all, is when were all snuggled up together on the balcony watching the stars twinkle.

I miss you Dandan"

Dan may have had his faults, we all do, but it is the good in him that will always be remembered. Those moments he made your heart melt, the love and laughter you shared. Dan was a wonderful, compassionate soul, who would help anyone if he could.

He was not afraid of showing affection and always gave his mum a hug and kiss whenever he left home, before turning and waving to her with a huge smile on his lips.

His last words to her were “I love you mum” and she replied “I love you too son” – and she always will, as will everyone who took Dan into their heart.

The final page has turned on Dan’s life-story but the imprint of his love remains. Dan brightened the lives of those he loved with his sense of humour, the way his face lit up when he smiled, and that endearing cheeky twinkle in his eyes when he laughed. In those beautiful memories, Dan lives on."

Dan's funeral was held at York Crematorium on Monday April 12. The ceremony was conducted by Hayley Owen and led by celebrant Fiona Brown of Your Ceremony.

Samaritans - can be contacted online via www.samaritans.org or by telephone on 116 123 free from any phone.

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