Gabriel Collins Cruz (1991-2026) Obituary and Memorial

Life story

Gabriel was born on March 23, 1991. He was the eldest son of Raymond & Shanalee Cruz’s five children. He grew up in Red Bluff, CA, and North Bend, OR, and graduated from North Bend High School in 2009. He was a partner, a father, a son, a brother, a nephew, and a friend who was taken too soon and will be missed by everyone whose life he touched.

Gabe enjoyed sports of all kinds. As a kid, he played soccer, baseball, and inline hockey. Later, he focused on cycling, skateboarding, snowboarding, and, above all, sandboarding. Gabe was a three-time DRI world champion professional sandboarder and had the opportunity to compete in places such as Mexico and Egypt. He spent many years as a sandboarding instructor at Sand Master Park in Florence, OR, where he introduced and shared his love of the sport with so many people.

Gabe had the purest heart and soul and would do anything for the people that he loved and cared about. He was always helping others, whether it was doing house projects for his mom, or helping his father or a friend work on a car. He worked as a CNA as a teenager and was known for being great with his patients. He was honored to assist in caring for his grandma Lupe during the last days of her life.

Gabriel was a loving partner and father. He spent the last five years of his life with partner, Dakota, creating a life and home together with their daughter, Aviana. He worked hard to support his family and was excited to be learning new skills in his job and providing for them. He loved to cook for them and make projects around the house with Aviana. They loved spending time together on family outings such as going to the park or the lake.

Gabriel passed away suddenly in a tragic car accident on January 2, 2026, at 34 years old. He is survived by his partner, Dakota Gilson; his daughter, Aviana Cruz; his father, Raymond Cruz Jr. (Ashlee, spouse); his mother, Shanalee Cruz; his siblings Jackson, Ezekiel, Maya, and Hallie Cruz, and Lux Hendrix.

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