A message from Khephra's mom

[WilliamPitt]

I posted this in another thread, responding to a question about how Scott passed. If you are not aware, he died at his computer.

===

I have to say, however, and I pray this comes out right, but if Scott was going to go down, that was the place for him to do it.

Scott hit 50,000 posts here in light-speed time. He did it because he used DU to better his understanding of politics. I got to hang out with him in his home office one day. He had two TVs going - one on CNN and another on the Senate on C-SPAN. He would run 'Senate Watch' threads in GD and let everyone know what was happening.

I don't know. A cowboy dies on his horse. A racer dies in his car. A soldier dies on the battlefield. Somehow, Kef dying at station before his computer, probably doing his work, just strikes me as just and proper. I absolutely hate that he has died, but if we had to lose him, I am comforted that he went doing what he loved to do, and what he was best at. May we all be so fortunate.

===

Scott's mother, who first posted here under his name to let us know this has happened, apparently tried to sxend this response, but hit alert instead of post. I got this, her intended response, from one of our moderators:

===

Will,

Scott had now 3 televisions, Air America going, 3 computers going and was downloading CDs and DVDs. We had just fixed up his room with a U-shaped area so he could view everything at one time.

He loved what he did. I do take comfort that he died doing exactly what he loved. He had just signed up to take an internet course from Robert Anton Wilson and was thrilled.

He seemed the happiest I have seen him in a long, long, time. All the warm thoughts and prayers are helping.

Mamma Kheph

===

All my love and prayers to you, Mamma Kheph. You raised a fine, fine man.

[Trajan]

1. Indeed .....

He seemed to have been happy enough in this life ..... THAT is success beyond words ....

[BrklynLiberal]

2. It is so bittersweet....To lose him, but for him to go doing what he loved

Your tribute to him on the other thread was beautiful. No one could ask for a more heartfelt, loving eulogy.

[KittyWampus]

44. It Is Very Much As If He Died In The Saddle...

and in the sadness that actually brings a bit of a smile.

[RagingInMiami]

3. I've been on DU only two months and never got to know him

But from all I've read about him, it was my loss. You guys have done him justice.

[bigwillq]

4. Same here-I wish I had gotten to know Scott better

From what I am reading, he was a great man! Well-liked, respected and fighting the fight.

Whenever you are Scott, you have made a difference. I hope that at some point in your short life, you got a chance to know that about yourself. :hug:

[Heidi]

32. Same here.

Courage, love and light to all those who knew and loved him.

[Longgrain]

51. I'm another one who's never gotten to know him.

I'm only getting to know him now through these tribute posts.

Made me think what would happen if one of my DU Friends passed on...

Here's to you Keph...

:(

[njdemocrat106]

5. I never met Kheph, and I didn't get to know him well here on DU

However, he sounds like a lovely person. Fighting the good fight here with us on DU. I know he'll be with us here in spirit, continuing to help bring about some change with us here in the land of the living.
Bless your soul, Kheph, and bless your soul too, Mamma.

[Skittles]

30. to know him was to love him

I never actually met Kef (I never knew him as Scott) but I just adored him

[kainah]

56. ain't that the truth

I woke up this morning still in shock about this loss. It's so hard to believe that we won't have his cheerful dedication around any longer but, yes, it is somehow comforting to know that he went quickly where he was happiest.

I just keep remembering all the days when people were losing it all over this board, tearing each other up about any of a number of issues, and the only way I could even bear to come to DU was because I knew I could go to LBN and Keph would have been pulling out all the essential news for me. Single-handedly, through his determination and commitment, he kept me from leaving DU permanently by making LBN a necessary resource.

I only wish this news had first been posted to LBN. That would have been so appropriate. And I do hope the DU community will be coming together to make some sort of lasting memorial to Scott.

Now, rest in peace. You've earned it, Kef. We love you and we'll always miss you.

[jus_the_facts]

6. My heart goes out to her....

....wish I'd known him much better. :cry: :loveya: :hug:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. I was teasing him the other day about being the King of LBN

He had made a comment about his, command central or command station, I can't remember which now.

He loved it. It was the right place for him to be and the right thing for him to be doing when his time came.

[ikojo]

8. Will, thanks for sharing this post from Mama Khephra

She did raise a fine son. He is a right and just testimony to her and she should be pround. Nothing better than knowing you raised a mensch.

Mama Khephra writes that Khephra was happier now than he had been in a long time. When my brother, Robbie, died suddenly in 2002, I took comfort in knowing that he had been at a very happy and content time in his life. I knew at least that he had known some happiness while on this earth. It's just so hard to lose the good ones and at so young an age!


For Mama Khephra and all of DU's mourners....


:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[cal04]

9. Thank you for all the postings

Although I didn't know him, I can see that he was very much loved and I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to know him like so many others here. If there's anything any of us can do will you please let us know. Thanks

[Robbien]

10. The picture of him in his media center makes me smile amidst the tears

If Kheph had to go, it is nice to know he was doing what he loved when the end came. It is a comfort.

[jonnyblitz]

11. an internet course with robert anton wilson

how cool.

[vetwife]

13. Death is so hard on the living..Peace to the Family

I know and learned well in the last year how hard a death of a loved one is on those left behind. This was a young man in his prime and there is a sad family tonight. I am saddened for this loss. Du will miss this young man but the grief of the family is so heartbreaking.

Prayers and thoughts going out to the family and all who were close to him.

[deadparrot]

12. 'My thoughts and prayers are with his family, this is so sad.

I didn't know him well, but I remember several of his posts, and that's not easy in a crowd of 60,000+.

Hopefully, his friends and family can stay strong and work through the pain. He sounded like a great guy, and was taken way too soon.

Best of luck to any friends or family who might be reading this.

[CBHagman]

14. Condolences to K's mother, family and friends.

Peace be upon him.

[underseasurveyor]

15. Not a dry eye on DU

I can't believe Kheph's gone:cry: I can't, I can't, I can't damnit! :-(

If only there were more like Scott in this world............

RIP Scott we love you and you will be sorely missed more than mere words can express.

[tjdee]

16. He is surely at peace now.

Thanks for sharing all of this with us.
I hope that Mamma Kheph has someone with her at this difficult time, and I'm hope she's comforted slightly to know that he passed doing what he liked best, and that there are so many touched by her son.

[salin]

17. To me, Keph was LBN...

I can't even try to count the number of senate threads (or other hearings) that I have read over the years. As my life took turns that greatly curbed the time that I could follow news and events as they unfolded, these threads (even if having to read 4, 5 or 6 linked threads as each became to big to continue to read - thus locked with a following thread) allowed me to understand the various twists and turns that happened - things that one can't get or see in a one minute or less news recap (if covered at all) on the cable news networks.

Mama Keph - what a fine man you raised. I am thankful to have had the chance to meet him at DU and to have met him in person. His intelligence, his grace, his passion and his commitment always shined through his posts. He will be greatly missed.

If I am able to get information - I hope to be able to attend any memorial service that is held in his honor.

Peace be with Scott, and his mother.

salin

[Voltaire]

47. I'll keep you posted when some news on services come out

I'd hope a lot of Indiana DUers at least could be here.

[ThoughtCriminal]

18. A writer friend went that way too

Had a stroke at his computer. As the saying goes, "He died with his boots on."

[lenidog]

19. I am kinda lost here

I am relatively new here about two months and today I have been seeing these threads about this person. I don't think I ever ran into them and I was just wondering what was up. Could someone give me the 411?

[hippiechick]

21. Do a search on his screen name

Kef WAS LBN for the first 2 1/2 years of DU.

He was the first 'local DU'er' I got to know in the Indianapolis area, and was like a little brother to me.

He tried his hand at local political organizing and got involved with several Anti-War, Separation of Church and State groups, as well as becoming a FreeMason in 2003.

He was an integral part of DU, and will be missed (as you can tell) by many.



:hippie:

[havocmom]

20. DUers, please remember to post a 'welfare check' for Momma Kheph

from time to time to remind her she is in our thoughts/prayers and we send strength.

As time passes, she will go through some VERY BAD days. There are time when it gets worse than right now. Let's make sure she knows we hold her in our thoughts and continue to share her loss, and send her strength.

Momma Kheph, know he will be missed by more than you could ever count.

Damn

[lateo]

22. Oh sweet Jesus.

No.

....falls on floor...

[frogbison]

23. I am so sorry.

Please forgive me, was he ill?

[kodi]

24. Mamma Kheph, your son had a positive influence on my life

.

[Pallas180]

25. Wow. I'm shocked. I read much much of Khephra's posts and

never realized he was a he, or in poor health.

Khephra was certainly a staple, a fixture of news at DU and a large gap of the multitude of informations he posted will be much missed and noticed..

I'm so sorry Mother Khephra for your loss.

[Desertrose]

26. just saw this and am stunned......aww damn.....

Keph was such a big part of DU....I am so sorry Mama Keph.....

He was just a really special and amazing guy....and will be so missed by us....

Sending love & hugs to you ......
DR

[Skittles]

27. oh dear

not sure I can take much more, so touching, so beautiful. I always wondered how Kef (sorry, I have to refer to him as Kef as I aways have) did what he did - it's because he was able to multi-task at lightning speed and cared deeply for what he did. Oh gawd how we will miss him.

[Kahuna]

28. Khephra was one of the truly nicest people on DU... He could..

disagree and always stay a gentleman. :cry:

[NJCher]

29. this is a sad day in DU history

I'm so, so sorry to learn this.


Cher

[Guaranteed]

37. I can't even believe this. nt

[Withywindle]

31. I am so, so sorry...

I'm just a rank newbie, can't say I really knew him....but I've learned so much about him tonight, and it's brought me to tears anyway, such a fantastic guy who died so young. My deep condolences to his mom, and everyone who knew him and loved him.

[AlienGirl]

33. There are no words

Keph was here long before I was, and I am deeply saddened to hear he's gone. I had a number of private DUmails with him, and I'm going to miss him a lot. :cry:

Mamma Keph, your son was a good man. He helped me get through things like cancer and divorce, and I am deeply grateful for his presence here.

Tucker

[Rhiannon12866]

34. Wow. Thank you, Will. What a wonderful post for Khephra and his mom

Thank you for sharing this, since I know that it will mean so much and reassure so many on DU who were so fond of Khephra. It still is a terrible shock, but a reassurance from his mother, who must be the most shocked and hurting of all, is totally amazing. What a wonderful mother she must be, to look past her own feelings of shock and pain, to reach out to an on-line forum, of all things, because she understood how much it meant to her son. And because, I hope, she knew that he meant so much to DU. This forum will never be the same, without him, but her kindness, at this terrible time for her, means so much, and I just hope that the responses that she receives give her a measure of comfort. Thank you, Mamma Khephra. As Will said, you did raise a very fine man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, always. And Godspeed to our missing friend, Khephra. We will miss you, more than you could ever know.
:grouphug:

[Piperay]

35. Kef was one of a kind

truly unique and special. :loveya:

[Guaranteed]

36. OH...MY...GOD.

Khephra is gone??






...........


I can't believe it. And he died at his computer? What happened??

[JohnKleeb]

38. No one knows yet really

I cant believe it either.

[roguevalley]

39. God bless his mom. I knew Kephra from Sci Fi before I knew he

was here. God bless him and his family. Hugs, mom. Your son was a truly interesting and unique person. I still can't believe this.

[northamericancitizen]

40. To Mama Kheph,

A separation is always painfull.

Death seems so permanent and cruel.

On the other side, now you know that your son is at peace. More than that, from somewhere he is now looking out for his family and friends.

Now he is with you all the time. He his listening to your heart and helping you go tru this difficult time.

My thoughts are with you and your family.

lise

[RFKHumphreyObama]

41. He was a good, good person

And his kindness, generosity and warmth of character will live on in the hearts and minds of all those who knew him and had the honor and privilege of interacting with him. The world was a better place for having him in it.

I miss you Kef :cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:

[Cooley Hurd]

42. Rest in Peace, Khephra. Friend.

I'm just so shocked. Saddened.

Tears are flowing for a man I never met face to face.

That's the power of DemocraticUnderground.

Oh man...:cry:

[shesemsmom]

43. Rest in Peace Kheph

:cry:

[buddhamama]

45. My thoughts and love to MamaKhephra

and to Scott, on his journey.

I am forever changed for having known him.

[MrScorpio]

46. Rest In Peace, Scott

We'll all miss you dearly

[roenyc]

48. just doesnt seem fair. i am so sorry for this loss.

[bluestateguy]

49. Did we find out what happened?

This is still such a shock. I did not really ever get to know him that well, but in his posts he struck me as very astute and intelligent.

[Robb]

50. I just woke to all this... aw, Kheph...

:(

I don't have any words yet.

[cedahlia]

52. I am so very, very sorry

I never met him in person, but through his posts here I got a sense that he was a quite brilliant, very kind man. I found him to be very passionate about music and movies as well as politics...I just read a post of his yesterday about how much Sonic Youth in particular meant to him, and found myself nodding my head in agreement...and now, I'm writing this...I just can't believe it.

I am just so shocked right now...this is a tremendous, terrible loss for all of us at DU...this place will not be the same without Khephra.

My heart and prayers are with you Mamma Khephra, and all of my fellow DUers who are grieving over the loss of a dear friend.

Rest peacefully, Kheph...

[CO Liberal]

53. I Hope Mama Khephra Continues To Post...

...the way Junkmail's great-grandson became a DU-er (Prodigal Junkmail) after his passing.

[UrbScotty]

54. May grace and peace guide you, Mamma Khephra.

And all of us, as well.

:hug:

[Beetwasher]

55. He Died In The Saddle

Thanks Mama Keph, for raising such a fine son.

Even though this news is devastating, I can't help but smile at the mental picture I have of Keph in his "U", hooked up to all the information sources. I only wish he had more time to ride it.

[Rhiannon12866]

57. I'm kicking your wonderful post, Will

I'm hoping that Mamma Khephra will take a measure of comfort from it, when she realizes how admired and loved her son was by so many strangers in cyberspace. He was unique to DU and is absolutely irreplaceable. And she is equally amazing, to have attempted to let his community know of his passing. When most mothers would only have been thinking of themselves and their loss, this amazing woman was trying to post on DU. That, to me, is a mother. Love to you, Mamma Khephra, and know that we are always here for you.

Rhiannon:grouphug:

[blondeatlast]

58. Maybe he was called because the RW bootlicking press

was starting to worm its way into the Afterlife Tribune and KHVN.

Here's to Scott's Mom, who was kind enough to let us know this happened.

:hug:

[Modem Butterfly]

59. Damn.

Just damn.

[Az]

60. We must all shoulder his self appointed tasks now

We must rise up to his example. We must be part of the solution. He is not there to carry our load any longer.