Robert Nicholas “Nick” Teta passed away at the age of 20 in Belton, Texas, on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.
Born on August 4, 2003, in Garland, Texas, Nick graduated Liberty High School in Frisco and went on to graduate from the Temple Fire Academy and become a certified fire fighter.
Words can never paint the full picture of a person. But if there were words for Nick, they would be these: fun, outgoing, committed, hardworking, responsible, awesome, amazing, energetic, charismatic, handsome, artistic, loyal, selfless, loving, sensitive, sincere, beautiful soul.
You could always count on Nick’s sense of humor. When his older brothers Jake and Tyler were in high school, saggy pants were in. Every day when Tona dropped them off at school, she said, “I love you, make wise choices, and pull up your pants.” The day she started saying that to Nick, he let her get as far as “I love you, make good choices” before he jumped in with that last line “and pull up your pants.” It became their thing.
Protective of and close to his family and friends, he made sure they knew he was all-in when it came to being there for them. This held true for the family he built at the fire academy, his bonus brothers, and his online gaming family too, who knew him as Vestro. If you were part of Nick’s life, he had your back. He loved you fiercely. You held an important place in his world.
That’s not to say he couldn’t get a little competitive. He liked to race Jake. And even though he lost every time they ran, he refused to give up … and he finally won.
He also loved playing D & D with Jake, Tyler, and his bonus brothers every Sunday. And every Sunday, Nick forgot to read his character sheet, which drove them all crazy.
It also drove Tyler and his wife Melissa crazy when Nick—who had to love on every animal—decided he and their dog Ace would be best buds. And Nick threw a ball at Ace’s face one too many times, and the normally docile dog lunged at him and growled. But eventually, Ace forgave him. There’s a picture to prove it.
Nick had a special relationship with his sister Miranda that began the second he earned bragging rights from peeing on her head. After he was born, she’d fought to be the first to change his diaper. While she might’ve regretted that life choice, she took her job as the big sister seriously. And that meant no matter how tall he got, he was never allowed to hug her with his arms above her shoulders. He had to squat down—because he was the little brother. When he left for school, he chose his big sister to take care of his dog Maggie but kept her dog tag close to him all the time.
As a supporter of the underdog, Nick often painted the nails on his left hand black just so people would ask why. And then he’d tell them. He’d share how passionate he was about accepting people for who they were. How he understood the way some struggled in their differences and acceptance of themselves.
Nick stood strong . . . for everyone else. And sometimes forgot to take care of himself. Mental health issues, including depression, are silent killers that steal those we love. Rest in peace, beautiful boy. You will be missed.
Nick is preceded in death by his grandfathers, Robert Pompeo Teta and Ernest James Davlin. Nick is survived by his father, Robert Phillips Teta, and mother, Tona Davlin (Jamie); his brothers, Michael Bradley (Emily Bassel), Tyler Bradley (Melissa), Jesse Jones (Jalen), Lucas Teta, A.J. Teta; his sisters, Miranda Bradley, Harlie Scott, Hanna Davlin, Sarah Teta, Mariah Teta; his grandparents, Mary Teta, Hollis and Gilda Stanbery, Rodney and Linda Rogers, Laura Davlin; his uncles, Colonel Richard Teta (Leah), Jeff Weaver (Tranessa), Joshua Stanbery (Lissy), Steve Davlin (Shana); three nephews and nine cousins as well as his five bonus siblings, David Bonaparte, Kennedy Maikowski, Marc Pappas, Sam Reed, and Sean Dye.
A Visitation will take place at Hurst’s Fielder Baker Funeral Home on Sunday, March 10, 2024, from 3-5:00PM. A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, March 11, 2024, at 2:00PM at the First Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas.