La Sota, Damon Stephen Joe

September 21, 1987 – July 21, 2012
at the age of 24 years

Celebration of Life:  Sat. Aug. 18, 2012   1 – 5 p.m.
Canoe Hall, Canoe, BC

Damon Stephen-Joe LaSota was suddenly taken from us on July 21st, 2012 at the young age of 24 years old. He leaves behind many people who loved him and in particular his sister Carly Stephens, his mumzie Laurie LaSota and his uncle Greg LaSota.
Damon was born in Prince Rupert BC at 2:00 a.m. on September 21st, 1987. He entered this world a kickin’ and a screamin’ and brought tremendous joy to all that met him. He especially loved his uncle Greg (LaSota) who taught him many things and looked out for him throughout his childhood. Damon quickly grew into a strong, sensitive little daredevil
who wanted to experience everything; swimming, biking, taekwondo, camping, fi shing and jumping off of almost anything. He particularly loved biking. He started with BMX racing during his childhood in Kamloops and quickly moved on to mountain biking, in particular, downhill style, complete with speed and agility; the faster the better for Damon. His family moved from Kamloops to Eagle Bay BC where he built tree forts and spent tons of time on Shuswap Lake. Hours of Damon’s life were spent swimming, diving and exploring at Shannon Beach with friends and family. Damon eventually received a trampoline and perfected a homemade
“trampoline bike”. He and his sister spent days jumping, climbing, twisting
and shouting on that trampoline mastering almost every bike trick in the book.
The outdoors was Damon’s haven. He loved to explore the forest and make
trails and secret hideouts for days on end…it seemed the tranquil  wilderness calmed him, but Damon would never sit for too long.
He struggled in school but was very smart…always reading either a Stephen King book or some explanation as to how the Titanic was built. Damon had bigger plans than school, he quickly realized how to make money and worked long days at Demille’s Farm Market. You may  remember him as the “Corn
Boy” in the famous corn cob costume…promoting sales. Once he received
his fi rst paycheque he was off. He worked tirelessly beside his Grama Ursula LaSota and Grampa John DeMarni. Damon and his Grama had a special bond…they often spent time together just talking about their days or just being quiet together…there was no judgment by either one.
During his high school days, Damon saw the work experience program at Salmon Arm Senior Secondary as his “OUT” of the school system. He was
placed with a great contracting company in Salmon Arm, who took Damon
under their wing and began to teach him the ropes… Damon never looked
back. Earning money and being independent was addicting to him. Into the
workforce he went, working tirelessly and spending tirelessly.
Damon worked in Salmon Arm for a few years, but was always restless as
if he were meant for bigger adventures. He moved on to Revelstoke to build the new ski hill, moved again on to Calgary to try out the big city which he loved, and again moving up to Grande Prairie in search of big money but eventually returned to his home and family in Salmon Arm. He had a great number of friends and made an impact on all of them. He was known as “the protector” within his close knit group. He valued his friends sometimes more than himself as they accepted him with no restrictions. Anyone who knew Damon came to understand his crazy ways but also knew he “had your back”.
When Damon was around, everyone would be doubled over with laughter,
he had a crazy, “way out there” humor that would light up the room. We often said he should have been a comedian. He knew how to diffuse a situation or how to bring a friend up from deep despair. He had the gift of true friendship and acceptance. Damon struggled with his own life and demons but never let that get in the way of taking care of someone else.
His life was quickly changing with the arrival of his fi rst child due in late
November of 2012 when he was taken from us, but he will be watching over that child from somewhere else forever. We will never know what troubled Damon but do know from now on he will truly be at peace and at rest in his mind, jumping his BMX, diving in the water and catching those big ol’ fi sh in White Lake. We will miss Damon greatly but never forget his crazy ways and his awesome laugh. Every time the thunder roars and lightening strikes…remember Damon as noisy as ever, laughing, jumping, screaming, howling and still making us all smile as only Damon could!!
A Celebration of Life for Damon will be held at Canoe Hall, Canoe, BC
on Saturday, August 18th, from 1 – 5 p.m. This is a casual, drop in type of
gathering; anyone who knew Damon or would like to share their experiences may attend… the more the merrier. We would like to send him off with lots of love and laughter.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donation’s to the Salmon Arm Skate Park, c/o 444 Trans Canada Hwy, Salmon Arm, V1E 1S9.

6 Comments

  1. Dear Lori,Greg and Carly,

    I’m soooo sorry to hear about Damon. I didn’t know until right now. What a shock!! Please accept my deepest condolences!!

    Whenever i babysat the kids, when we all lived up Ivy R.D in Eagle Bay, Damon and I would joke and laugh about funny things, we played outside building a bike ramp for him a couple times, safely,of course. He was a great character, we had oodles of fun!
    Sometimes we would put on little skits to amuse Carly, she was only around 1 then.Damon was always very helpful and curious,and he used to ask to help me clean or cook sometimes.
    And i always said thank you for offering and encouraged his intellectual/physical/emotional growth as I do my own children now, well, one is still a child of 11, the other one is 16 now.
    I will always remember Damon as a very sweet and sensitive person.
    Thank you for gracing us with your presence Damon, may you be at peace! And your family too, as your probably watching over them all. Please take care, Sincerely, Lisa.

  2. To Laurie,
    I’m am very sorry for your loss. I didn’t know Damon very well but I did go to school with him he was a funny kid and quite the rebel. He was very energetic and a popular guy.
    If I’m not mistaken we’re distant cousins. I think we share a relative by the name of joseph lasota who owned a berry farm in richmond. My moms grandfather Stanley lasota was related to Joseph lasota. If I’m correct Laurie and Damon are the descendants of one of joseph lasotas sons.
    If it turns out were not related please accept our condolences just the same.

  3. No words are adequate to the pain you must feel. May God give you additional strength at this difficult time.

  4. Laurie and Carly-Rose. Our hearts and thoughts are always with you and are even more so now during this most difficult time in your loves. Although Damon was only in our lives for too short a time he will always be with us in our hearts and our memories.

    We are so sorry that we were unable to be there on Saturday to show our support and love and to help you to celebrate Damon’s life.

    All our love,
    Lea, Randy and Rachel xo

  5. words cant even say to you what u meed. so sorry for your loss laurie.

  6. Sorry for your loss Laurie…thinking of you and your family.

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