Brett was such a fun guy and so full of life in high school. I remember one day before school we were all sitting in our cars and all of a sudden he just lashed out at a boy that was walking past. It was so out of character for him and I could not believe what I was seeing. Later, we learned that that outburst was one of the first of many signs of his brain cancer. He and Eric were roommates that first year in college and he got worse pretty fast and had to drop out. So while the rest of us were enjoying college and having fun, he was mounting the fight for his life. He lived long enough to serve as the Best Man at our tiny wedding in 1984, but you could tell he was just there for us and not feeling well at all. He died soon after and it just seems like such a waste that someone with so much to give would be taken away. I always think of him whenever I hear an "REO Speedwagon" song.
I did not have the opportunity to really know Brett during high school, other than to see him driving through the parking lot looking pretty cool in his little car. A couple of years after high school, Brett began attending my church. He had already undergone brain surgery and was slated to have additional surgery, I believe somewhere in the East. My memory in particular is of Easter Sunday when I was helping coordinate the Easter Egg Hunt for the little kids and Brett came in with family. I believe it was his niece that was hunting for eggs. Although the strain of his condition was obvious, he seemed happy in those moments watching the little ones hunt for eggs. Brett did not survive long after that. I know his suffering was great and I am thankful that he now has peace.
Brett was a dear friend. Memories...road trips to Dallas with Steve and Marsha, learning to shoot his rifle out in the boondocks, motorcycle rides, laughing with his mom (complete goofiness!), REO Speedwagon on the stereo, playing the Hammond organ his dad used to play in his living room, Bible study at my house after high school, visits to the hospital room, playing organ at the funeral. See you later, friend.
I got to know Brett when he and his family moved to Greenville. He and his mom started attending at Wesley United Methodist where we were members. His mom and my parents ended up in the same bible study class and decided we would be great friends. We were always friends but somehow went different directions in high school. I'll never forget hearing Boston's first album at Brett's house when I stayed over one night. We had a ball wamdering around in the woods with our pellet guns looking for something to "kill". The last time I saw Brett was right after of his surgeries. He was sitting on a bench at the mall head all bandaged. It wasn't too long after Michelle and I got married in '83. He was just a shell of the Brett I knew before. We didn't say much, just sat and watched the people go by until his mom or sister came out of the store and got him. I didn't know what to say then and probably wouldn't know what to say now. I'm sorry my friend, I hope it was enough. Last week I saw and AMX Javeline, just like Brett's. It almost looked like it could have been the same color and I thought about him. All it needed was some glitter in the clear coat and a enthusiastic teenage driver.
Hummmm, this is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. Brett was such a fun guy to be around. I don't think I really got to know him until the very end of high school. It was actually after graduation that he made such a big impact in my life.
You see...we were a couple. Well, not really. We never dated, but we were the 3rd and 4th wheel to the Kathe Murray and Steve Saenz romance. We four went to Six Flags about a million times. Can you imagine what effort it took to get two tall people into some of those rides?? Thank goodness, Brett was skinny!!
We four went exploring out on Brett's property about a million times.
We four spent the night at the lake with Steve's parents (boys outside with his dad and girls inside with his mom).
We four went motorcycle riding. In fact, it was during one of these rides that I decided I don't like motorcycles!! Brett and I (and Steve and Kathe) were riding down some country road when we came across a low branch. Now, being a tall girl, I saw the branch and, of course, leaned to the right to avoid hitting it. Well, when we went off the road and Brett griped at me for almost causing us to wreck, I decided that was enough motorcycling for me. I still don't ride!!
We four had a great time together and I will never forget that a big part of the fun I had in those years right after high school was because Brett and I were a couple! Well, not really.
Dana Kennedy (Riley)
Brett was such a fun guy and so full of life in high school. I remember one day before school we were all sitting in our cars and all of a sudden he just lashed out at a boy that was walking past. It was so out of character for him and I could not believe what I was seeing. Later, we learned that that outburst was one of the first of many signs of his brain cancer. He and Eric were roommates that first year in college and he got worse pretty fast and had to drop out. So while the rest of us were enjoying college and having fun, he was mounting the fight for his life. He lived long enough to serve as the Best Man at our tiny wedding in 1984, but you could tell he was just there for us and not feeling well at all. He died soon after and it just seems like such a waste that someone with so much to give would be taken away. I always think of him whenever I hear an "REO Speedwagon" song.Diane Dryden (Bellah)
I did not have the opportunity to really know Brett during high school, other than to see him driving through the parking lot looking pretty cool in his little car. A couple of years after high school, Brett began attending my church. He had already undergone brain surgery and was slated to have additional surgery, I believe somewhere in the East. My memory in particular is of Easter Sunday when I was helping coordinate the Easter Egg Hunt for the little kids and Brett came in with family. I believe it was his niece that was hunting for eggs. Although the strain of his condition was obvious, he seemed happy in those moments watching the little ones hunt for eggs. Brett did not survive long after that. I know his suffering was great and I am thankful that he now has peace.Kathe Murray (Johnston)
Brett was a dear friend. Memories...road trips to Dallas with Steve and Marsha, learning to shoot his rifle out in the boondocks, motorcycle rides, laughing with his mom (complete goofiness!), REO Speedwagon on the stereo, playing the Hammond organ his dad used to play in his living room, Bible study at my house after high school, visits to the hospital room, playing organ at the funeral. See you later, friend.Stephen Frazier (Frazier)
I got to know Brett when he and his family moved to Greenville. He and his mom started attending at Wesley United Methodist where we were members. His mom and my parents ended up in the same bible study class and decided we would be great friends. We were always friends but somehow went different directions in high school. I'll never forget hearing Boston's first album at Brett's house when I stayed over one night. We had a ball wamdering around in the woods with our pellet guns looking for something to "kill". The last time I saw Brett was right after of his surgeries. He was sitting on a bench at the mall head all bandaged. It wasn't too long after Michelle and I got married in '83. He was just a shell of the Brett I knew before. We didn't say much, just sat and watched the people go by until his mom or sister came out of the store and got him. I didn't know what to say then and probably wouldn't know what to say now. I'm sorry my friend, I hope it was enough. Last week I saw and AMX Javeline, just like Brett's. It almost looked like it could have been the same color and I thought about him. All it needed was some glitter in the clear coat and a enthusiastic teenage driver.
Marsha Baughn (Cooper)
Hummmm, this is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. Brett was such a fun guy to be around. I don't think I really got to know him until the very end of high school. It was actually after graduation that he made such a big impact in my life.You see...we were a couple. Well, not really. We never dated, but we were the 3rd and 4th wheel to the Kathe Murray and Steve Saenz romance. We four went to Six Flags about a million times. Can you imagine what effort it took to get two tall people into some of those rides?? Thank goodness, Brett was skinny!!
We four went exploring out on Brett's property about a million times.
We four spent the night at the lake with Steve's parents (boys outside with his dad and girls inside with his mom).
We four went motorcycle riding. In fact, it was during one of these rides that I decided I don't like motorcycles!! Brett and I (and Steve and Kathe) were riding down some country road when we came across a low branch. Now, being a tall girl, I saw the branch and, of course, leaned to the right to avoid hitting it. Well, when we went off the road and Brett griped at me for almost causing us to wreck, I decided that was enough motorcycling for me. I still don't ride!!
We four had a great time together and I will never forget that a big part of the fun I had in those years right after high school was because Brett and I were a couple! Well, not really.