Levi Austin Harden

Levi Austin Harden was born May 29, 2016 in Portland, Oregon to Nathan and Jenica Castillo Harden. He and his family resided in Gresham, Oregon. Levi was a beautiful boy from the start with an infectious personality that captivated everyone’s heart that met him. An active child he loved sports including; baseball, basketball, golf, football, swimming and hiking. He loved going to the park to play. He would wait patiently for his dad to come home and shoot hoops with him in his own yard or take him over to the neighbors where they had a real big-boy basketball hoop! He was impossible to remove from a mini golf course and even the promise of ice cream would not get him to stop playing the game! Inside Levi could put together 100 piece puzzles all by himself and loved to play with his toys, especially his Thomas the Train sets, his magnetic building sets and Lightening McQueen and matchbox cars. Levi enjoyed his two cats as well. Taking after his mother he was quite the artist loving to draw and also loved books, stories and his favorite TV shows. He liked to sing along.

Most of all Levi loved his mom and dad and he thought the world of his older brother, Clayton who was his best buddy. Clayton would chase him around the house and yard and then Levi would chase him in turn. They loved just being silly together. When Levi’s little sister was born 3 months ago Levi couldn’t wait for her to be born and welcomed her with lots of love and kisses. Whenever she would cry he would want to hold her and comfort her.

Levi was a very affectionate child and would always cuddle, and blow kisses and wave to say good-bye to grandparents when they were leaving. He loved his little friends in day care and children’s church.

Levi was diagnosed with DIPG an inoperable and incurable brain tumor on August 7th. He went home peacefully to be with Jesus in heaven October 11th surrounded by his family, their love and prayers.

He is survived by his parents, Nathan Harden and Jenica Castillo Harden, his brother Clayton VanDyke, and sister Erin Harden all of Gresham, his grandparents, Brian and Lois Harden of Port Angeles, Washington and grandparents Nick & Marian Castillo of Damascus, Oregon, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.