James Arlie Gleason's Obituary
GLEASON, James Arlie, age 27, of Beavercreek, transitioned to be in the grace and glory of God on Thursday, April 23, 2026. While his earthly journey was cut far too short, his life was marked by a passion for connection, a fearless spirit, and a heart that touched more lives than we may ever truly know.
James lived life with a bold, infectious energy that made every day an adventure. One could easily find him carving his way through the snow while snowboarding, feeling the freedom of the open road on his Kawasaki Ninja, jumping from the roof, playing basketball on a segway, jumping out of planes skydiving, annihilating competitors in airsoft sorties, galloping on horseback, or anything else he thought was worth experiencing! He played crazy games in life with his friends and brothers that they would have never experienced without being with James in the moment. James embraced every moment with enthusiasm. He was a true force of nature—charismatic, competitive, and vibrant—often seen in his signature red and black colors or even dressed up riding his motorcycle in his Deadpool gear.
While he was a bold adventurer, he was also deeply humble, quiet, and profoundly caring. He was the person who would lend his time to chat with someone for hours, listening and genuinely caring. He was compassionate, wore his heart on his sleeve, offering his true self to those around him. Many have stepped forward to share that James did more than just offer a listening ear—his actions and his presence quite literally saved their lives.
James began content creation in his teenage years and never gave it up. He was known to his online community as notOnlyJames. He was an amazingly proficient gamer, showcasing his unique talent, mastery, and skill in the many clips and reels he produced. James managed his Discord channel for many years, where one would always find it active with friends joining him daily on his online adventures. James found a profound sense of purpose in the digital communities he nurtured across YouTube, Twitch, and Discord. His natural technical genius allowed him to master the world of streaming and gaming, but it was the friendships he built that defined his digital legacy.
To know James was to experience life, light, and love. He had a magical, charismatic energy and a robust sense of humor that was always felt by those around him. He was endearingly mischievous - the daredevil of his four brothers - the one always leading the charge into fun, danger, and grand adventure. He approached life head-on and faced adventure fearlessly, often to the chorus of his parents’ refrain, "Jamie, no!"
Above all, James was defined by his deep, quiet faith in God and his unwavering love for his family. We see him in our memories with his ever-present chain and cross resting around his neck. Throughout his life, he was friendly and outgoing, willing to boldly approach anyone - drawing others in with a humble, kind-hearted nature that made everyone feel seen. Even in the simple things, like his love for a classic Chipotle bowl, William's homemade sauerkraut, Crunch bars, Airheads, Taki's, and mischievous shenanigans, his presence brought laughter, fun, and joy to those around him. We can all still hear him saying, "Let's GOOO!!" as he lit out on his next adventure. Even in his quiet times, he still touched lives. He lived, he loved, and he left an indelible mark on our hearts.
The ripple effect of the time that James' presence was in the world has already been evidenced by the many who have stepped up to say how he impacted their lives and, for some, literally saved their lives. He had so many friends across so many different genres. The outpouring of love is a testament to how much he was loved.
We can feel James with us now, even without seeing him. In our memories, we hear him saying, "Alright, alright" and ending most sentences with " and whatnot". It’s no surprise that, given how amazingly proficient he was in gaming, he would reach the final level first and start his next great adventure. We have been so blessed to have this beautiful soul in our lives, even for such a short time. Truly, James is still with us and will always be with us.
Family meant everything to James, and he cherished time spent with loved ones. His mom and dad, Barbara and Ricky, were always his strongest supporters. Believing in him from the moment of his birth. Along with his three brothers, they had a family bond that stretched beyond the now and will hold James close then, now, and forever. His sisters, brought to the family by his brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, nephews, and nieces, all feel the loss of James profoundly in their lives. Even though James has taken the step into what is next and left us to play catch-up, his family will always have him close in their hearts until their turn is here, and we all get to join him.
James's brothers and sisters, Kaleb and Meghan, Jacob, Cherokee (Turk) and Summer, aunt and uncle Juanita and William, cousins Alex and Jon, Cassandra Joy and Michael, Danielle Blair, and nephews and nieces Sean, Declan, Dante, Leonuara, and Elayna, along with so many longtime family friends Zak, Sam, Jared and more, his newer friend Terry, and James' new and very special friend Andi that are more like family than friends are all going to miss him so deeply and profoundly. We will keep him alive in our hearts and minds as long as there is breath and life in our bodies and souls.
James gets to join his Uncle Christopher in God's realm. Chris has a spirit much like James, always leading the way, especially into trouble and adventure - we're certain they're causing chaos in heaven together! James also gets to join his grandpa, Dr. Blair A. Rowley, who was always interested in what James was doing and cherished playing with him as a child. Grandpa is surely hugging him now!
We invite you to come and celebrate James's life with us between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Conner & Koch Funeral Home in Bellbrook. A celebration of life service will be held at 5 pm at the funeral home, followed by a memorial motorcycle rideout sure to be one for the record books, and a bonfire in his honor at the office afterwards. For those attending, if you can, please wear red and black. Those were his favorite colors and feel represent the bold, vibrant spirit he carried throughout his life. Condolences may be sent to the family at https://www.connerandkoch.com.
What’s your fondest memory of James?
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Share a story where James' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with James you’ll never forget.
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