Daniel Travis Findlay Obituary (2024)

Daniel "Dan" Travis Findlay passed away on April 8, 2024, from medical complications related to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder he fought against all his life. He was born on December 9, 1981. His parents, Bob and Linda Findlay, raised him in various places in Western Washington. Dan had especially fond memories of living on Camano Island. The family moved to Wenatchee when Dan was in his early teens. He attended Wenatchee High School, where he sang with the Chamber Singers. He spent significant time in the music department, eventually becoming a teachers aide to Mr. Jackson and student director of Into the Woods. After graduating from WHS, Dan returned to Western Washington to pursue music, playing with several bands. After a few years, he moved back to Wenatchee to attend Wenatchee Valley College. In 2002, he met Rachel Adkins in a creative writing class. Later, their paths crossed again while working at Hastings. They became friends, then fell in love, and were married on September 16, 2006. They settled down in Wenatchee and raised a family of incredibly spoiled pets. Dan and Rachel enjoyed watching movies and TV shows, listening to music, taking road trips, and eating delicious food together. Dan loved music from an early age. Guitar was his first love, and he grew his expertise to "anything with strings and frets." He worked in music most of his adult life, the Music Department at Hastings, sales at Avalon Music, and his dream job, sharing his love of music by teaching private music lessons. He said many times he would never stop teaching. He taught many students from childhood until college. The bond he created with them was so strong, it wasnt unusual for him to hear from them after they had moved on to college. Dan was incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication and always looked forward to seeing them. Dan believed friends are the family we choose for ourselves, and he surrounded himself with a much larger family than he was born into. He is survived by his wife, Rachel Findlay, parents, Bob and Lynda Findlay, in-laws, Russ and Cheryl Adkins, three sisters, three nieces, five great-nieces and nephews, Aunt Sue and Uncle Sammy Gelato, dog, Indiana, cats, Rory, Purrcy, and Celia, and many friends who were part of his chosen family, particularly Scott Brouwer and Tara Graves. Dan is preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, Uncle Dale Travis, two best friends, Charlie Voss and Ian Bishop, and beloved cats, Chloe and Dude. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 3:00pm, at the BPOE Grand Ballroom (27 S. Chelan Ave, Wenatchee, WA). In lieu of flowers, donations in Dan's honor can be made to Wenatchee Valley Humane Society. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.