"It's more important to live honorably than to survive." For the last ten years of Houston's life he studied and searched for a hero, the perfect protagonist, as he worked on his novel and mythology that he hoped to someday share with the world. Little did he know that, through his afflictions, he would become the hero he was so desperately trying to find and would create a story tangible and real, loved by many, simply by living. He thought that unfaltering heroes were not realistic or relatable, but he proved himself wrong in the way he humbly lived his life and fought the cancerous demon inside of him. The cruelest villains not only attack the body but attempt to destroy the soul, and Houston's soul could not be shaken as his body endured every pain imaginable. For the nineteen months that he fought rare and aggressive leukemia he taught us all how to live with gratitude, laughter, and without complaint. He remained steadfast, faithful, endured to the end, and his fortitude was easily witnessed by all who knew him.
Houston always worked hard to make the world a better place through his quiet example, happy attitude and creative spirit. He won state and national art contests at ten years old, excelled in school, served his peers with special needs, was a student body artist, and made a feature length film with his friends at Brighton High School where he graduated. He chose to be baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at sixteen, was an eagle scout, and served a full time mission in Cordoba, Argentina. He married his sweetheart in the Salt Lake Temple and graduated from Brigham Young University's film program where he emphasized in screenwriting. Even though his schooling was finished, he never stopped learning. He stayed up until the wee hours of the night researching, writing, and scouring the works of his favorite authors to better understand their craft. He called Sandy, Maui, and Moab his home. He loved the mountains, ocean, and red rock and spent countless hours exploring them. Houston worked for Vivint's media team and with Bored Shorts TV creating funny YouTube videos. He loved making people laugh and it was rewarding for him to see the joy he helped bring others around the globe. While battling cancer he went on many adventures. He flew to LA one month after his second stem cell transplant to make a video with Lucasfilm, was on Salt Lake Comic Con's media team (twice), and enjoyed time with his family and friends.
Houston is preceded in death by his grandmother Yvonne Hale, his cousin Lindsey Hayes, and brother-in-law Jordan Thibeault. He is survived by his parents Jon and Christine, his wife Denise, and his siblings Normandy, Dexter (Shanice), and Katelyn (Kolby). He is also survived by his grandparents Don Holbrook and Dennis and Karen Hayes, his nephews Dublin, Hayden, and Jax, his niece Graicee, and his "out-laws" John and Celeste Thibeault. The family would like to thank Vivint for their kindness, Bored Shorts TV for adopting Houston into their family, as well as his countless friends and supporters globally. Houston personally expresses his gratitude to his mother Christine and his wife Denise for their service, dedication, and love.
Please join us as we celebrate Housty's life and bring this beautiful chapter to a close. His viewing will be on Sunday, December 14th from 6-8pm at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. Dimple Dell Road (10600 S.), Sandy and his funeral will be on Monday, December 15th at 11am, with a viewing prior from 9-10:30am at the LDS Chapel, 13085 S. 300 E., Draper. Interment to follow at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.
