With a spirit as unstoppable as a tumbling dryer on the fritz, Dominick Deon "Domie" Butts-Ealy took his final skydive into the great beyond on July 20, 2026. Born March 6, 1991, in Denver, Colorado, Dominick's adventurous spirit was evident from the get-go. As a toddler, he earned the nickname "Damn-I-Nick" from his Nana for his unique approach to laundry day. His method? Tossing all the freshly washed and folded clothes out of the basket with a triumphant "Tah-Da!" And just like that, Dominick lived his entire life...His Way.

As a firm believer, Dominick was baptized at the tender age of 7 at Abundant Life Baptist Church by Pastor William L. Rooks. He carried the love and compassion instilled in him by his faith throughout his life. He was the kind of guy who'd give you the shirt off his back, even if it meant he had to do another load of laundry. He carried his love for creatures great and small in his heart, with his dog, bearded dragon, and box turtle ranking high among his closest companions.

Never one to be confined by convention, Dominick made waves both in and out of the water. A talented swimmer and diver, he scooped up several awards for his aquatic prowess and even snagged a Coach of the Year award. His favorite type of homework? The kind that involved a diving board or a hiking trail. His response to those pesky school assignments? "Why should I do homework when I get an 'A' on all of my exams...I'm not doing it." Well, Tah-Da, Dominick. You showed them!

One thing that always annoyed Dominick was mornings. While most people enjoy sleeping in, especially on vacation, his brother apparently never got that memo. Without fail, every single morning at 5:00 a.m., his brother would jump out of bed and blast his music for the whole house to hear.

Vacation? Doesn't matter.

Weekend? Doesn't matter.

Sleeping family members? Definitely didn't matter.

You could always count on Dominick waking up to the sound of music and wondering why anyone would voluntarily be awake at that hour. And every morning, he'd give his brother that look... You know the one.

Imagine that face!

From Denver to Arizona, North Carolina, and Chicago, Dominick brought his unique blend of adventurous, loving, funny, and compassionate energy wherever he went. His life was a testament to the verse from Proverbs 17:22, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." His heart, as cheerful as they come, was indeed good medicine to all who knew him.

Dominick is survived by his loving mother, Estelle Butts; his significant other, Alex Solat Jr.; his brother LaVone Ealy (Sareda); nephews Khai, London, Hendrix, and nieces Khloe, Santana; his grandmother Dolores Ealy; his grandfather, Jesse Butts. His loving Aunts Stephanie & uncle the late James Manuel, Joy Hall, Dorothy Dias (Lance), Yesta Ealy, Kimberly Carithers, Apryl (Orenthal) Gates, Stephanie (Demond) Jones; his loving Uncles, Kerry (Sandy) Butts, Gregory (Christi) Smith, Christopher (Michelle) Thorpe, and Anthony Thorpe. He is preceded in death by his father, Derek Butts; uncle Robert Thorpe (Wendy); and grandparents Juanita McDade, Linda Thorpe, and Billy Ealy; great-grandparents Rudolph Ealy and Willene Ealy. Bonus Sisters, Ashley, Vanessa, Aminah.

To keep the memory of Dominick's vibrant spirit alive, we invite you to share your favorite "Domie" stories and photos on his memorial page. Whether it's a memory of a shared adventure, a quip that still makes you chuckle, or a photo of him with that infectious smile, we welcome your tributes to our beloved Damn-I-Nick. Tah-Da, Dominick, your spirit will live on in our hearts forever.