A message from Khephra's Uncle Tad...

[faithfulcitizen]

Hi everyone, my dad wanted me to post this as his post count isn't high enough:

"First, I would like to thank all of the kind people from Democratic Underground for their condolences and fond wishes for Scott and our family.

I didn’t really know of Scott’s contributions to DU. He kept it to himself; he didn’t honk his horn or make a big deal of it. But, obviously he found his calling in life. He made many acquaintances and some good friends there and that is more than most of us have in this life.

Scott had a difficult 37 years. He did not get a lot of breaks from life and unfortunately he stumbled and fell several times along the way. But through it all he never changed from the gentle person he was. While he could have turned hard or uncaring he became more empathetic to people.

But don’t confuse gentle with anything but a man. One memory that we got a laugh out of later was the time someone broke into the house and, realizing his mother and grandmother may be harmed, made a charge that John Wayne would have been proud of. The intruder turned heel and got the hell out of there.

Scott was always searching for something spiritual. He always gravitated towards lesser known Gods. He was a great believer in a supreme being but was always searching. I was floored when I heard that he had joined the Masons a few years ago. I was surprised because for a person who looked for new age spiritualism and ancient gods he joined an organization with deep historical and religious roots. But maybe it made perfect sense after all.

I recently saw the movie Troy in which fallen warriors were sent on their way to their god by placing coins over their eyes to pay the boatman to take them across the river Styx to the underworld and onto the Elysian Fields, reserved for heroes. In some ways that is comforting and I think Scott would have liked that.

Goodbye Scott we love you and will miss you."

[progmom]

1. That's beautiful.

Thanks.
We truly miss Keph.

:grouphug:

[HEAVYHEART]

2. That is beautiful

My heart hurts..

[GCP]

3. Scott was one in a million

We really miss him. Thanks for posting.

[LibDemAlways]

4. Thank you for posting.

A beautiful tribute. God speed, Khephra.

[shesemsmom]

5. I wish I could be with you all today

I didn't know Kheph well. I read a few of his posts, but feel a strange kinship with him. We had a lot in common. The political activism and the fact that he is a Hoosier, fighting this Big Blue war in this red state. I hope you find peace in the fact that we all share you pain. God Bless

[KeepHopeAlive]

6. Thank you

What a beautiful tribute. He was indeed a hero. Safe journey on the river, Scott.

[liberalnurse]

7. Thank you for sharing.

Scott was our friend,he had found his niche and second family here. I'm lost for words at describing his contribution to me and others on this board. The term mentor comes to mind. He set the bar for all of us and indeed had a predicable, fair and noble presence.


He will be in my thoughts daily.

[UrbScotty]

8. Continued best wishes for you, Uncle Tad, and all of the family.

:hug:

[susu369]

9. Thank you for sharing

the story of Kef charging the intruder brought a smile. A special spirit.

[Misunderestimator]

10. Thank you... Scott will be missed...

may he rest in peace.

[Coventina]

11. I wish I could be with you today

but I am with you in spirit.

[bobthedrummer]

22. In the spiritual dimension of our lives.

[JanMichael]

12. "Goodbye Scott...."

I hope he knows somehow how very much he is missed.

[villager]

13. Thanks. We're gonna miss Kef a lot around here.

Elysian Fields' gain, is everybody's loss...

[BiggJawn]

14. My sympathies to you, Uncle Tad, Momma Kheph and all your family.

I never met Scott except through this board, but since I had lived in Indianapolis recently (most my life), and he knew some of the same places and things that I did, I felt somehow a little closer to him.

He will be missed.

[DeepModem Mom]

15. Thank you for including us in your thoughts on this day --

you and your family are in our hearts, and Khephra is with us here always.

[nuxvomica]

16. The story of Khephra's courage is not surprising

"One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest."
Maya Angelou

Thank you for posting this. Peace to you and you family.

[imenja]

30. what a wonderful quote

and how moving. That you for including it here.

[Straight Shooter]

17. "A life is measured not in its length, but in its breadth."

It seems the more we know about who he really was, the more it hurts to know he's gone.

Blessings to you and your family. May you find comfort in knowing that although his path in life was all too short, it was very wide and touched many.

[Fleshdancer]

18. such a wonderful post, thank you.

It's so hard to believe Kephra, Scott, is gone. He certainly was a memorable DUer and he will remain that way for years to come. Scott was a passionate, good man. I find comfort in knowing that he was just as wonderful off of DU as he was when he was on it. May he be at peace.

[Trajan]

19. Khephra was not alone ...

Eloquence is a familial trait, obviously ...

Thank you for this ... Many here are pained by his loss, but it is miniscule compared to the loss to his beloved family ...

Peace to you and yours, and to Scott ...

[Skittles]

20. thank you

we do miss him terribly

[supernova]

21. Hugs to you Uncle Tad and Kheph's family

:grouphug:

Thanks for taking time today to share. Please know that I am thinking of you.

Rest in peace, sweet Khephra. :cry:

[President Kerry]

23. Dear uncle Tad,

my best wishes to all of Scott's family. May he rest in peace. That was a great tribute to the kind of person he was - from you, Momma Kheph, Skinner, and WilliamPitt. I now feel like I've known him for a long time, and we will miss him here.

[Butterflies]

24. I'm with you all in spirit today

We miss Scott here. He was one-of-a-kind.

[Paradise]

25. Scott will be remembered. Thanks for writing...

[Zomby Woof]

26. A great tribute

Thanks for sharing a bit of Scott's life with us. He is the same fighter we have always known.

[Gemini Cat]

27. Thank-you!

He was one in a million and one of my personal favourites here.
He was a rare treasure.

He is missed.

[imenja]

28. Scott sounds like a wonderful person

I wish I would have known him. I very sorry for the great loss all of you are feeling.

[jus_the_facts]

29. Thank you for lettin' us know your thoughts today...

....wish I could meet you all in person and celebrate how much Scott meant to us around here...may he rest in peace and live forever in our memories of him. Peace to you and his Mom and all who's lives he touched. :cry:

[fluffernutter]

31. thank you for sharing your thoughts today.

my thoughts are with you and the rest of your family as you remember Scott.

[Book Lover]

32. Thank you

I wish I could be with you all today. Please know so very many of us are thinking of your family, and of Scott. He was a bright star.

[joeybee12]

33. Thanks for posting--we will certainly miss Scott

[mvd]

34. Thank you for posting!

Beautiful tribute.

[MadisonProgressive]

35. I never knew Scott, or even 'knew' of Khephra...

But the expressions of those that knew him or his virtual ego on DU speak louder than words. Rest in peace, Scott, and I wish I could have known you.

To his friends and family, God bless you and take pride and comfort in the way Scott touched people in his time here.

[Rhiannon12866]

52. And welcome to DU, MadisonProgressive!

We're glad to have you with us. Khephra was very special and will be terribly missed on DU, for as long as we are here. I am just so glad that you found us and this very special tribute to him.:-)

[rasputin1952]

36. I just want to let you know, that as I was reading this post, the sun came

out; after being gone all week...:)

It seems fitting.

Keph was a Beacon of Light in the Darkness. It does not surprise me in the least, to see him flying at a burglar, with no sense of fear; in fact, I would have been remarkably surprised to have heard he didn't do that.

Keph was a Patriot in the truest sense of the word. He knew that we could all aspire to a better life. He never let the stumbles in his life keep him down; in fact, he cleared new paths for others to follow. He removed the traps that night have caught others, and left a Legacy of Courage, honor and Dignity. I am proud to have called im friend, just as you are proud to call him family.

Go gently into the night good Scott...we shall meet in the next room.

[flamingyouth]

37. Thank you for passing this onto us

And I especially love the story about him charging the home intruder. We are all so sorry for your family's loss.

Yesterday I was at the co-op and found the greatest candle. It's green, with the eye of Horus on it, and it's scented with lemon verbena. Best of all, it was called "Protection." I put it on my altar last night for Scott. I'd been buying candles from this particular company for years but had never seen this one before. I took it as a good sign.

Scott and I share a birthday, and I will always remember him on December 27.

[Habibi]

38. The DU universe has been

full of wonderful, amazing people. Thanks, Scott. Thanks, Uncle Tad.

[GreenPartyVoter]

39. Thank you for sharing this sweet letter with us *hugs and prayers*

[Bo]

40. Most High Bless Kef

[bigwillq]

41. Thanks for the message

R.I.P. Scott

You'll be missed.:hug: :cry:

[smbolisnch]

42. Thanks for sharing that with us...

:grouphug: He will be so missed here....

:kick:

[Elidor]

43. Scott was a beautiful guy

Too good for this world.

[roguevalley]

44. Lovely, just lovely. Bless you and yours.

[Capn Sunshine]

45. Vaya con dios Scott

Green grass and high tides forever

[Piperay]

46. Thank you for sharing

some of Scott with us. O8) I will never forget Kef, he is going to be missed here for along time. :grouphug:

[Rhiannon12866]

47. What a lovely and heartfelt post and I thank you

DU is really mourning the loss of Scott and such a personal observation means so much. I cannot boast of being one of his personal friends, but I was certainly aware of his intelligent presence on DU and appreciated his informed posts and perspective. He is terribly missed, since his contribution was one of a kind. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, since I know that most on DU are feeling his loss and we appreciate any insight or contribution from those of you who were close to him. Thanks so much and please stay in touch. DU needs this right now.:-)

Rhiannon:grouphug:

[Carni]

48. I didn't know Scott but feel terrible about this loss

I don't know anyone at DU as a "real" person.

I see screen names, see the icons, and of course have an "Oh I've see them around" reaction, or I like their posts, humor, info etc...
but I don't know the people behind those screen names.

I just read Will Pitt's memorial column about Scott on another forum and found myself getting choked up.

I am so sorry for this loss to Scott's family and his friends at DU.

[DinahMoeHum]

49. Thank Uncle Tad for us, faithfulcitizen.

:grouphug:

[sonias]

50. Thanks for the update Uncle Tad

Kephra/Scott is now a very powerful star in our skies. His memory is still here to light our way and I know he'll be watching over us at DU.

Goodbye to your human self Scott, we do still love you and miss you. I just know you're still around.

Sonia

[RFKHumphreyObama]

51. Your tribute profoundly moved and touched me, Uncle Tad

It was such a heartfelt and eloquent tribute to a nephew who was truly wonderful individual and who touched the hearts and souls of so many (including myself) of us here on DU. We will never forget the kindness, the generosity of spirit and the breathtaking depth of intellect and knowledge that your nephew contributed during his time here on DU. If there were more people like Scott in this world, it would be a much better and a much more beautiful place.

Once again, my deepest and most profound thoughts, prayers, sympathies and condolences are extended to you and your family. We all miss Kef and we are all keeping you all in our prayers and thoughts

Regards,
Owen (SD1981)