DeCoite, Russel James' Obituary
Russel James DeCoite, born February 6, 1955, of Olinda, Maui, passed away on January 31, 2026.
Russel was a true cowboy, a paniolo first and always. He grew up in Kokomo alongside his siblings Alan, Cindy, Mark, and Karen, working from a young age at the family’s meat packing house and cattle ranch. He carried a lifelong love for working with cattle, horses, sheep, and goats, and took great pride in caring for his own animals.
A graduate of St. Anthony’s School, Class of 1973, Russel continued his education in Arizona for a time. In his younger years, he enjoyed bronc and bull riding and became a record-holding twin roper at the Makawao Rodeos, competing with his partner Melvin. With the help of his father and friends, he even built his own arena in Kokomo near his childhood home.
Russel also loved the ocean. He especially enjoyed early morning surf sessions before school, often making Cindy wait patiently in the car while he was out in the waves. He loved fishing and bird hunting as well, and gave Karen’s son, Raye, his very first hunting lesson.
His greatest passion was working cattle alongside his dad, Tony, on the ranches they both owned, ZD and Rocking R. To his children, Russel was larger than life: funny, endlessly entertaining, and always ready to share stories. Family and friends would often request that he bring his beloved lau lau to gatherings, a special touch that became part of every celebration.
Russel was a fair and helpful man who lived a life of peaceful solitude in the trees of his beloved property in Olinda. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Russel is survived by his mother, Frances DeCoite; his stepchildren Jordan, Jenny, and Justin Bateman; and his grandchildren Tyler, Trevor, Maddie, and Aubrey. He is also survived by his sisters Cindy Parris and Karen Perreira, his brothers Mark and Alan DeCoite, and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his partner of 30 years, Annie Bateman, and his father, Anthony DeCoite.
A service will be held on Friday, February 20th, at St. Joseph’s Church in Makawao:
8:45 a.m. Family Visit
9:00 a.m. Public Visit
10:30 a.m. Eulogy
11:00 a.m. Mass
Russel will be remembered for his love of the paniolo life and the stories he was always a part of. A true Maui paniolo, the storyteller, the cowboy everyone knew, now riding off into the sunset.
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