Obituary of Galen William Batson

Galen William Batson, age 22, beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin, friend, slipped from our midst peacefully and quietly at home on January 15, 2015 at 9:15 in the morning. A survivor of childhood leukemia and bone marrow transplant, Galen died from a recent two-year encounter with brain cancer. A memorial celebration for Galen will be held at Columbine Unity Church at 8900 Arapahoe Road in Boulder at 2PM on January 24, 2015. Born in Boulder on July 20, 1992 and raised in Steamboat Springs and Boulder, Galen attended Lowell Whitman Primary School in Steamboat, was homeschooled for many years, and graduated an AP Scholar from Boulder High School. Growing up in Steamboat, Galen was game for anything. He was a competitive cross country skier, played soccer, and participated in swim team, Little League and lacrosse. He was a talented cellist, playing in ensembles including a family trio, and in youth orchestras in Steamboat Springs and Boulder. He grew to love cars and motorcycles, and he adored the Denver Broncos and Madden NFL. Galen lit up Camp Wapiyapi for many years, as it lit up Galen, and skied with Shining Stars and adventured with First Descents, all of whom support kids and young adults with cancer. Our G was pursuing a BS/MS degree in Public Health at Tulane University when he became ill during his Junior year. His intent was to go to Africa after Tulane and work with populations affected by poverty and infectious diseases, and then return to Colorado to buy a big ranch and work on cars and motorcycles. Galen brightened the staff at Children’s Hospital Colorado at his job in Specimen Processing, he was a trusted member of the staff at Reily Student Recreation Center at Tulane University, and he worked at Humble Ranch in Steamboat during his final summer, zooming around on a 4-wheeler and helping with outdoor ranch tasks that he grew to love. Survivors are numerous, and include his mother, Deborah Hallinan Batson and partner Amy deForest Colo of Boulder, his father David Dunkin Batson and partner Sharon Willhelm of Durango, sister Kelsey Jean Batson and partner Sierra Lord-Halvorson, brother Sean David Batson and partner Cassandra Ly, all of Boulder, paternal aunt Elizabeth Batson of Bellingham, WA, and maternal aunt Marybeth Hallinan of Peterborough, NH, and second mom Cheri Trousil of Steamboat Springs, both of whom joined the family in caring for him during his final months. He leaves also Haley the Dog and Doc the Horse, among other four-legged friends. He leaves many excellent friends in Boulder, Steamboat Springs, and beyond, and lots more family, and he joins his grandparents, his Nona, and many friends and kitties who died before him. Galen was a brilliant light in all of our lives always, with his quick wit, kind heart, and beautiful, quick, easy smile. He enriched his family immensely, inspired his friends to kindness and generosity, and taught many of us how to approach our lives here with humor, dignity and grace. May his memory be a blessing. If you wish, memorial donations in Galen’s name may be made to Galen’s Gift, a Colorado 501(c)3 founded in his honor to assist other young adults with life-limiting illness, or to Camp Wapiyapi, Galen’s beloved summer camp for kids with cancer and their siblings.