Roll Call Tribute

Nathan Craig McElrath 

February 26, 1974 - May 3, 2024 

On Friday, May 3, 2024, Nathan Craig McElrath passed into the great beyond. We, his family and friends, are broken-hearted at our loss, but we are also grateful that we were blessed to have him with us for all of his fifty years.

Nathan was born on February 26, 1974, in San Angelo, Texas. He was a happy kid that always wanted to defy gravity-on his legs, on his bike, on his skateboard, and on his roller blades. He loved nothing more than to race his bike up the street onto a ramp he'd built out of spare planks of wood, soaring up into the sky for a few heartbeats before returning to earth. He loved fast cars, too, long before he could drive-he would while away church sermons at St. Luke's United Methodist drawing pictures of Lamborghinis and Camaros on the bulletins.

The bike and the skateboard made the move with Nathan and his family to the Fort Worth area just in time for Nathan to begin junior high. The 90s skater-boy joined the marching band and played snare with the drum line. It was at Trinity High School in Euless, TX that he met several of his life-long friends-long after he moved away from Fort Worth, he often returned to hang with his buddies.

He enrolled in Texas A&M University and joined the famed Corps of Cadets, but, to no one's surprise, the severe regimentation didn't sit well with him, and he continued his education at UT Arlington. He stayed in the Fort Worth area for many years, working as a cable guy, a car mechanic, and a general contractor-and always enjoying time with those friends. He got a fast car of his own-a beautiful blue Miata.

In 2011 he realized his life-long dream of becoming a pilot, graduating at the top of his pilot class and landing a job flying pipeline with American Patrol in Midland. Finally, instead of a few seconds in the air on his bike, he could spend hours racing through the clouds. He loved flying-he was always amazed that it was actually "work" and that he got paid for it.

After many years as a pilot he took a break to go off on an adventure. He built a camper that fit on the back of his truck and set out to see the western United States. He traveled from Texas all the way up to the Dakotas and over to Wyoming and Oregon and back again. He made friends wherever he went and saw some of the most beautiful country and sites in the world. He'd initially planned on making a second trip out to the east coast, but he delayed that and took up his old general contracting job in the family business, moving to Kingsland where the work was. While at Kingsland he found a new passion--if he wasn't going to be flying through lower space, at least he could look at outer space. He invested in a couple of powerful telescopes and spent many evenings looking at the stars. And once again, those that knew him found in him a real friend-thoughtful, funny, kind-and often really, really dorky and wearing a fedora.

It was in Kingsland that Nathan's story moves to a chapter beyond this world and into the heavens to be with his Creator. Among those who loved him the most are parents Brenda and Jerry Parmer of Goldthwaite; father Ed McElrath of Abilene; sister Kelly McElrath Vaneman and her husband Chris of Spartanburg, SC; and brother David Parmer and his wife Rosemary of Weatherford. His nieces and nephews-Ashlee Pate, Andrew Parmer, Lexi Parmer, Tally Vaneman, Blake Patterson, Peyton Malugani, and Stephen Malugani-all loved their Uncle Nate dearly. A memorial service of love, laughter, and sweet memories will be held at a later date. In the meantime, some evening go outside, look at the stars, and remember our Nate.