About Travis Waites

Our family lost Travis on August 27, 1995. He was much like most young men in that he carefully picked which of life's challenges were worth consideration. He didn't care for homework, but found learning easy, almost boring. While trying to find a hobby that might interest him, a friend (Randy) suggested SCUBA diving. He found this activity worthy of his attention and he pursued every opportunity to obtain extra training and experience. By the time he was 16, he was an accomplished SCUBA diver with a Master SCUBA Diver certification. His goal was to become a commercial diver after high school. He would often be found at local lakes on weekends with his SCUBA buddies, Randy and Lloyd, his Dad, or all of them. He liked participating with his adult dive buddies who were mostly instructors and divemasters. He was at home in this environment.

Travis' mother, Kathy, often expressed her appreciation of Travis' habit of sneaking up on her while she was working in the kitchen, and giving her a big hug and telling her what a wonderful Mom she was. His father, Gary, who started diving after Travis, always seemed amazed at Travis' accomplishments, as were most of Travis' friends. His father (now a divemaster) has continued his diving activities with Travis' diving buddies. Travis used to delight in teasing Sarah, his sister. She held her own very well, and misses these "skirmishes". Sarah earned her PADI Open Water Diver "C" card in the summer of 1998. Randy and her father report observing many of the same "taking care of business" diving instincts that Travis enjoyed.

Kathy oftened mentioned Travis' hugs. His friend, Randy, has this thought....

A hug or a kiss from one we love is God's greatest gift. A tender thought of one who has gone ahead is a hug or a kiss on the cheek of the one we miss. A smile on our face is the return of that love....if we allow the smile to happen.

Randy Allen - January 18, 1999

	Copyright © 1998, 99 by Kathy Waites - All rights reserved	Visitor# [an error occurred while processing this directive] since January 11, 1998