MEMORIES OF KYLE

This is a collection of memories of Kyle written by family, friends, co-workers, employers, and teachers. 

Our fond memories of Kyle begin in Gainesville, Florida where activities were centered during University of Florida homecoming. Our families would meet and stay near campus for the parade and football game. One particular memory is of fun and games in his grandmother’s hotel room. Small children belonging to Jim, Gerald and Locke played hard and gleefully while grandma Betty watched on.

Other memories take place in Pensacola where Kyle and his family moved when Kyle was young. Memories of air mattresses covering the floor with Kyle and his visiting friends jumping up and down having lots of fun. Floating around in the Lowrey pool with Kyle and David on those visits are fond memories too.

More recent memories are of a very handsome bearded young man. Very striking in appearance and very sweet in nature. I remember Kyle shaking my hand in the living room near the piano, where he welcomed me with a great big smile. I wish I had asked him to play a piece on the piano for me to have as a fond memory. Kyle has joined loved ones now in his new home smiling down on us.

Ramona Bingham

Kyle was such a special young man.  I will never forget those twinkling, brown eyes of Kyle in the second grade.  He was such a bright, inquisitive, and handsome young child -- inside and outside.  He loved poetry and was so eager to learn about so many different subjects.  He was a charming young fellow and was popular among his classmates.  Kyle touched lives in a positive way even as a young child.  Kyle will we missed by so many people -- me included.

In loving memory of Kyle Lowrey
and with much sympathy,

Karen Mattox
Second grade teacher
Lipscomb Elementary
Pensacola, FL

I am deeply saddened by your son's passing, and I have such a great sympathy for and empathy with you & his whole family during this time.

Reading through his life story, I am not at all astonished at the man he continued to be and the state of his heart & soul that persisted throughout his life. You should be truly proud & awed by what he accomplished in his life & in the deep & numerous ways he touched the lives of so many others. He continues to do so, to say the least; his passing has brought myself & several others together to both laugh & remember the person he was & the times we had.

You see, Kyle was truly a joy to be around. He was always very thoughtful - bringing people random gifts, being truly interested in others during conversation, helping to cook meals, just enjoying the 'presence' of others that he could be joyful around, and also - I believe to be the most important - truly listening to others. Kyle was very inquisitive in a very honest sense. In my case, we would spend hours (whole nights) discussing philosophy, travel, music, what was important in this world, and to say the least, he was always asking me different things about theoretical physics. But I mention all of these things to really bring together my earlier & central point - that Kyle was truly a good listener. I believe that is probably the most valuable trait in an individual - being able & willing to truly listen, and I believe it to be one of the most valuable traits in the state of our world today. This is what made Kyle, I believe, to be so valuable & treasured in so many people’s lives; because he didn't just hear people, he really listened to them & was fully present in those moments of his friendships & times of togetherness.

There was a whole other portion of our friendship that is essential to touch on - his sense of humor. I cannot tell you how many nights we would spend downstairs, playing video or card games, absolutely cracking up into all late hours of the night, he would be sitting on that stupid plastic & leather couch they used to own. We would all have a blast. I distinctly remember his laugh and the way his hair would move as he tilted his head back. We really just all enjoyed each other, and looking back, I don't remember our particular 'group' of friends ever having any issues among each other; it was a really healthy group to be in. I guess both he was lucky & we were lucky; we both found a group or person that loved to laugh & also could discuss the deeper aspects of our own personal lives & human life as a whole. On that note, some of my best memories are with Kyle just leaned over laughing on the couch (along with the rest of the room) because one of us had just fallen into an absolutely terrible situation in a game, and we're all really funny people, meaning our expressions & 'o God please no' statements became more & more comical as the situation grew worse. And then on an opposite note, my deepest moments with Kyle were those late-night conversations or when we would meet up at a Starbucks and fall into discussions that would pass through an afternoon in no time at all. That's how I knew Kyle - the whole spectrum of what made him so enjoyable, both his depth and his lightness of being.

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to speak of our friendship and to revisit all of our memories, moments, & connections we had together. He made both my world & that of others much deeper, warmer, & more joyous.

Absolute best upon you & your family and I wish you a great warmth of heart,

Lonnie Gibbons

I never had the opportunity to meet your lovely son but your journal of his life is heartwarming. When you asked us to write about our impression of Kyle, after reading his legacy the word that comes to mind is INSPIRED. I am inspired by the spirit of love and compassion that Kyle so clearly expressed through his commitment and dedication to the cause of making this world a better place

Rachel Dency

David enjoyed the many fishing and diving trips on the Little Buddy, the boat named after Kyle. Naming Gerald's boat after Kyle was just one of numerous examples of how much Kyle was loved by his parents. Over the last 30 years, we have enjoyed going out to dinner with Gerald and Sherry, Jim and Suzanne and Jim and Monica to catch up and relive memories from the years at University of Florida. As often happens when adults get together, the conversation would turn to showing updated pictures of children and learning what was going on in their lives. We always enjoyed hearing the updates on Kyle's numerous interests as well as updates about the many family centered activities that Gerald, Sherry, Kyle and his brother experienced. David also was impressed talking to Kyle about one of his trips to Belize. It was great to see his personal commitment to help others through his involvement with this mission trip.

David & Laine Sheppard

My Dear Kyle: I was given the opportunity of expressing my memories of our meeting. Well, let me say I was tickled, you walked right in, sat down, and made yourself at home. To be honest, I was nervous wondering what we could talk about, that really was a silly thought. Your gentle spirit and kindness took hold and we both were having a wonderful time learning about each other’s story.....life. Thank you, Kyle for the memory... Our Family's was blessed for having you in our lives. We Love you, Dear Kyle.

Betty Stafford

I knew Kyle basically since birth thru Dr. Lowrey, my boss for many years. Our kids went to Lipscomb Elementary together and played youth baseball at NEP. Some of the moments that live in my heart are Kyle playing Elvis in a school play! He was definitely the star of the show!!!  The family at the ballpark along with ours was also such sweet times! All that white in those uniforms, just to come home with red clay everywhere. Somehow, they would get white again. So many stories Dr. Lowrey would tell of the family vacations. I believe Kyle made Captain status in the boating world Kyle was such a gentleman when he came to observe his Dad and staff at work a few years back. I would have loved to have known the thoughts that went through his head that day. Forever Kyle will be in my heart ❤.

Love,
Kelly Pogue

I didn't get to know Kyle as well as I wish I had. So, I don't have a lot of memories of him. I remember seeing him many years ago when we'd go visit Sherry and Gerald or even Aunt Betty. But one memory more recently has stuck out. My mom had taken a trip to Kentucky with Sherry, Aunt Betty, and Kyle. They were on their way home when they decided to stop by my neck of the woods and meet me for dinner. We decided to meet at a very wonderful Italian restaurant that was just about to close for the night. Despite that, they welcomed us in with open arms. I'm so glad they did because without them, I might not have this memory. I hadn't seen him in so long. I don't think I'd seen him as a young man before that night. I remember we were at dinner and everyone was talking and catching up. He was telling us all about his life, accomplishments, and future plans. And then he asked about me. He showed genuine interest in my career and personal life. He was so well spoken and well mannered. You could tell he'd been raised right. We continued on in fellowship and finished our dinner. We said our goodbyes. And I remember that night how great it was just to be in his presence. Kyle was a wonderful young man. I know that his family will miss him but his legacy will live on. This world could use a lot more Kyle's.

Kenneth Strong

I've come to know Kyle Lowrey through his father Dr. Lowrey, who I have worked with for about 25 yrs. I've seen Kyle and David over the years when their mom Sherry would bring them in to see their dad at work. One day Dr. Lowrey brought Kyle in to work with him so Kyle could observe what he did as a Radiation Oncologist. Another therapist and I had the pleasure of showing Kyle how we set-up patients for radiation treatments. I was instantly amazed at how intelligent, sensitive, polite and handsome he was. The patients enjoyed meeting Kyle as much as we enjoyed getting to know him better. He will truly be missed by many.

Nancy Lopez 

Kyle’s Water Temper

We were lucky enough to enjoy Kyle during a wide range of ages. As a young man in the single digits, he often had things to say that seemed well beyond his years. His abundant intelligence was already becoming apparent.

He was also just funny sometimes. One day he, Nik, and I (Jim) were driving over the Bayou Texar Bridge in Pensacola. He pointed at the water and said, “water temper.” “What?”, I said. He just repeated, “water temper” with an emerging smile. I said, “What the heck is a water temper, Kyle?” He just smiled, pointed at the water, and repeated “water temper.” It was probably just a random thought he had at first. But when he saw that Nik and I were perplexed, he decided to take it for a ride and just kept answering every question by repeating “water temper” without ever offering an explanation. We all just ended up laughing and driving on.

Although the Mother’s Group began with just the mom’s and kids gathering at a local church to socialize, it soon grew beyond those borders to include the dads and siblings for parties and other activities. Kyle would toddle around playing with all the other kids, and you could hear his sweet little voice talking ninety miles an hour.

When Kyle was just a baby, we went out for a boat ride over the Sand Island. There, I (Monica) took a picture of him where he looked as if he had something brewing in his little brain and was about to say something profound. He wasn’t even verbal yet, but as he grew up he was able to express himself very well. He always impressed me with his depth of knowledge on subjects we would discuss.

Our family was also lucky enough to be invited to many “Country Day” events at the Lowrey farm over the Thanksgiving holidays. We would shoot guns, boil shrimp, and sit around a large camp fire. At those events, it was easy to see just how close Kyle and David had become... something that never changed.

As Kyle grew up, he became busy with his own life so we didn’t get to spend as much time with him. But through Gerald and Sherry, we looked on as he excelled in school, volunteered to help others, and pursue outdoor passions. We will all remember Kyle and forever even share a secret phrase... “water temper.”

With love . . . the Hoskins Family

When Gerald and Sherry bought the lot next door to me, Kyle and David were young boys that came over to my pool to swim. I asked Kyle if his mother worked outside of the home and he replied, “No, she isn't allowed to, but maybe she can when we get older.” He was so cute in his response. I took he and David on the beach to show them how to catch crabs, but they were not sure about the crabs, although we had fun.

Louise Wolfe

I cherish the fond memories of celebrating the children's birthdays at Tammy’s house. Easter and holidays, all of us being together and the last time your family came to mom and dad’s. It was then that Elizabeth, Kyle and myself sat in the living room and talked about authors, writing, and life.

We are so blessed to have loved and been loved by Kyle. I could just sit and listen to he and Elizabeth for hours. I came away from the conversation feeling I had experienced or opened up an unlocked door to one of the many mysteries of God's creations! Really, I saw things in a different light.

It's hard to explain♡♡♡.

Sherry we love you, and your family so much!
Donna Lowrey Revel 

One of the fond memories I remember was being included in Kyle's birthday celebrations when he was a young boy. I remember Kyle being dressed in adorable outfits to go along with the birthday theme. Sherry took pictures of Kyle opening presents and sent us the picture of him opening our gift. I wish I could locate the picture. 

Kyle's generous heart and love for his family will always be cherished.

Our love and prayers are with you. May you find the strength you need to get through the days ahead.

Love,
Uncle Thomas and Aunt Betty Lowrey

I got to know Kyle's fun personality during a summer road trip to Orlando with Tammy and the Griffin kids years back. Kyle had a favorite saying while in the car for the 6+ hours, which provided us with lots of laughs!! 

"Do you like cheese? Do you like pizza? Do you like cheese pizza?" I wish I could remember how it all got started, but it was the theme of our trip!! 

My heart is broken. May loving memories ease your loss and bring you comfort.

Lots of love and prayers,
Lesli Lowrey Hudson

I never met Kyle, but since I know Dr. Lowrey, Kyle must be a person of good character. Seeing the photo cubes in Dr. Lowrey's office, Kyle's a tall and handsome guy. I can imagine that Kyle also inherited his dad's values, morals, and kind heart. I have heard Dr. Lowrey speak of Kyle on many occasions and I know how proud Dr. Lowrey is of his sons. He speaks of Kyle's accomplishments in school. They enjoy taking family trips together. Together they would laugh while watching Family Guy and other funny shows on TV. Every time I hear stories of Kyle, I can feel the close father and son relationship they have. I remember Dr. Lowrey always said his sons complete him.

"The best things in life are the people you love, the places you've been, and the memories you've made along the way.”

Tara Dang 

I can’t tell you the times I enjoyed Kyle being at our home, either enjoying a meal together or just offering to come take care of the leftovers for me!! His Granddaddy, My Uncle George, and my Dad, Thomas, always made me feel so proud when they enjoyed something I would prepare. Needless to say, I loved that Kyle did too...Boy did he love Hot Sauce!!!!

When the boys were in their early teens, I remember a trip where Kyle would stay in character...DO YOU LIKE PIZZA-I LIKE CHEESE PIZZA- IF HE ASKED ONCE, IT WAS 25 times, just on the trip down to Orlando-that’s not counting the rest of the trip....lol!!!!

I enjoyed the story of Kyle overhearing, Paige, Katie and Emily at a young age upstairs at the Chelsea house when Kyle overheard them trying to pronounce cuss words and apparently not saying some of the words correctly. So, he proceeded to teach them the "correct" way to say them... they all had a good laugh together while learning how to properly say bad words. lol

Sherry, I remember the first night that precious boy came to spend the night with Garett---He was anxious but we talked our way through it...the Jam sessions at the Chelsea house-the card games and cookouts, the Blue Angel Airshows by Boat and jumping off the tower of the boat... Fort McRae....

Tammy Lowrey Griffin

Kyle has always been my life coach. I remember when I was much younger, around the ages of 10 to 12, my biggest issue in my life at the time was being embarrassed by my parents. Kyle and David both would always help me cope with such a tragedy. I believe it was Kyle’s 16th birthday party when the whole family was watching Team America, a graphic comedy movie starring puppets. There was an intimate part coming up involving images my mom thought I had never seen, so naturally she instructed me to leave the room for the duration of the scene. I did so begrudgingly, upset that Kyle and David were allowed to stay, and I was the odd man out. Kyle, being the supportive, empathetic, teacher he was, decided to leave with me so I wasn’t alone. As we were sitting in the separate room, he began to give me a lecture, or pep talk rather, to make me feel better. “Don’t give them the satisfaction of being upset,” he said in a stern tone, stoic as usual. “You’re just going to go back in there and say ‘Oh I didn’t even want to watch it anyways’.”

Another similar time, or times, was when I would always be offered wine at a family get together. One glass, of course, and Kyle would tell me to again, not give them the “satisfaction of partaking in their pity offer”.

There was never a dull moment with Kyle, especially if we were outside or in the woods. I remember when he and David would come with me and my dad to our land, and the three of us would walk through the woods as Kyle would speak to us like a tour guide, informing us about the plants, wildlife, and fecal matter around us.

Being the rugged guy he was, Kyle was very particular about his mom’s and my nail polish decisions. One of the last times I was over at his house, I had a dark maroon color painted on my nails, and Kyle did not approve. He took my hand, inspected it, and with a disgusted look on his face, threw it down. I tried to explain that it was maroon. He insisted it was black, and maybe was “flirting with purple”. Needless to say, he liked more natural colors.

Kyle will live on by how I carry myself and how I will try to take my inspiration by his actions and apply them.

I love and miss you Kyle, and I forever will.

Love,
Katie Sparr

Hello,

My name is Erica Jenkins, and I was lucky enough to spend about 7 weeks with Kyle when we both volunteered to work on the Appalachian Trail.

I have many fond memories of Kyle, but two that particularly stand out:

#1: I was driving the Canycom, a kind of motorized wheelbarrow, when I tipped it over. Gravel spilled everywhere. This wasn't an uncommon occurrence, but when a person tipped it, they would get teased about it and potentially have to get pizza for the whole group. Kyle was coming along the trail from the opposite direction. When he saw my predicament, he helped me to re-right the machine, pick/shovel up as much gravel as possible, and then spread out what we couldn't pick up so that it wouldn't be as obvious that there had been a spill there. He spent a good amount of time getting the engine restarted for me, which I wouldn't have known how to do on my own. He never complained about having to help me, and he never mentioned the incident to the rest of the group, thus saving me from any embarrassing consequences.

#2: In the morning, one of the guys came into the kitchen from the guys' bunkhouse. He told me how he had heard a noise in the middle of the night and couldn't place what it was. He started looking around for the source. It turned out that Kyle had fallen asleep listening to Moby Dick, and it was loud enough that it could be heard in the room when his headphones fell off. Kyle really did love that book! I think anyone who spent at least a few days with him knew that it was his favorite.

To whoever is reading this, I'm so sorry to hear of Kyle's passing. He was really such an amazing person. I kept meaning to get in touch with him after we were done volunteering. I'm bad at timely communication because there is no deadline; I always think, "Oh, I can just send an email tomorrow." Well, a lot of tomorrows add up to years, and now there isn't a chance for me to talk to Kyle again. I regret that I robbed myself of the opportunity to talk to, and perhaps spend more time with, such a wonderful human being. He really was one of the most interesting, kind, and genuine people I've ever met.

Sincerely,

Erica Jenkins

My dear friend,

I got to meet You in a student dorm in Fayetteville where we both studied at the University of Arkansas, me as an exchange student from Deggendorf, Germany and You as a civil engineer from Gainesville, Florida. I remember that we met in a group of people and we quickly noticed that we had much in common like moral attitudes, sights on the world, and the passion for travelling. I found this a great occasion to make a new friend and decided to hang out with you after the “party” was over and we had an intense conversation about everything and nothing for the rest of the night. It was a conversation that made me feel comfortable, a conversation that allowed silence which was not awkward but meaningful, a conversation that makes you want to stay...

I left at dawn and enjoyed my 2 mile walk home, watching the sun filling the earth with color, listening to the birds and still being impressed by You: a tremendously eloquent, noticeable, interested and smart person. 

Now, I am in deep grief about Your unforeseeable passing and I want to express my feelings with a poem, which we were occasionally talking about that night. It is called “Funeral Blues”, by Wystan Hugh Auden:

Funeral Blues

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone.
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let the aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling in the sky the message He is Dead,
Put crêpe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever, but I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out everyone,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun.
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Your passing fills Your beloved ones with sorrow. Your passing raises the question “why”. Your passing makes it hard to withstand the normal course of life. Your passing is not fair. But I think it is wrong to say: “For nothing now can ever come to any good”. Robert Frost - Kyle seemed to love so much – once said: “In three word I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on” and Berthold Brecht noticed: “nobody is really dead while there is still someone who thinks of them”. I agree. Your life- Kyle Alden Lowrey- will go on, although You are physically no longer with us. You will continue to live in our minds, with all the beautiful memories we share with Your great personality and with all the good times you shared with us.

Thank You Kyle, it is a huge pleasure to call You my friend,

Christian Hundshammer

For 25 years, every time I see a baby starting or struggling to crawl, my mind always thought of Kyle. I don't know if you remember, but at my wedding shower Kyle was crawling on Val's carpet 100 mph. I just couldn't believe his style, it was the cutest I'd ever seen. From that point on, I would literally call him "GI JOE". It has stayed with me as such an endearing sight, that big baby, not able to hold his heavy body up with his hands yet he thought of a way to get the job done by crawling with his arm strength. From the beginning, we should have known what a great thinker ... engineering was his gift. The last time I saw Kyle, at the cabin in NC, he hugged me goodbye like a papa bear, it was so wonderful.

How God created Kyle with such a big frame/body was needed to carry his huge heart. God is hugging him now and the Bible says we will all recognize each other when we're there. I Believe, and you can be assured that Kyle is with your Dad, Wayne and Alan now. I love you,

Therese Miller Jensen
😘

It was a summer afternoon. The family just happened to be together at Lawrence’s house and Kyle was probably close to a year old. I can still hear the laughter and good times that were ever present when we would visit. I can see Gerald holding Kyle as he and Sherry were by the car, and Gerald saying, “Look Lawrence, He can wave!” There, in the arms of his Dad, was Kyle smiling and waving. It was priceless. We met another time, same place, but Kyle was much older, probably in his teens. Everyone felt much at home and as I sat on the couch, I remember Kyle playing the piano but not just any tune. I watched his hands flow across the keys playing a beautiful classical piece and I thought to myself how talented and gifted he was. My encounters with Kyle were very few, mostly at family gatherings especially the holidays, but no matter when we met, I saw a strong, respectful, life loving handsome young man. That same little boy that could wave goodbye grew up to be a compassionate and caring man who was not afraid to live his dreams.

“And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1Corinthians 13:13

Kyle truly showed his love for his family and fellow man through his altruistic acts of kindness and encouragement.

Love,
Grace Mondello 

"My favorite memory of Kyle is from our most recent trip to the Bahamas. All the boys has a house together, and every night, after a long day, we would all sit in the living room until the early hours of the morning. I especially enjoyed listening to Kyle talk about anything and everything. He was such an intelligent person and everything he talked about interested me." 

Bryan O'Neill

"My favorite memory I had with Kyle was last year on the family trip to the Bahamas. One day while he was captaining the boat, he started singing "A Pirate Looks at 40," by Jimmy Buffet, out of the blue. After that, the song kind of became the song we sang for the whole trip."

Alex O’Neill

"I've known Kyle for many years now, and he's really impacted my life for the better. He was such a sweet guy that cared about everyone's happiness before his own, and we created so many memories. We went to the Bahamas every other year, and he always made the trip a better time. One of my favorite parts was riding on the kid boat with Kyle and David. We would go over huge bumps, only to come down and all get drenched. The boat was always filled with laughs.

Another thing Kyle would always do was sing random weird songs and make songs up. By the end of the week, we would all be singing the songs too. He always brought so much fun to the trip, and I will never forget how great a person he was."

Love,
Morgan O’Neill 

Having had the privilege of knowing the Lowrey/Broom family for over 30 years, my memories of Kyle are many and precious. To name only a few that particularly warm my heart shall be an easy undertaking for me. One of the first ones that comes to mind is watching him dance and sing around the living room of their house one Christmas season years ago when he was a young boy. The sheer joy and happiness in his face as he danced to his favorite Disney videos is etched in my mind. The next one that stands out was on a ski trip to Steamboat Springs. We were all walking down the street on our way to dinner when someone asked Kyle what he was going to have for dinner. He didn't miss a beat and said, "I'm going to have Big chicken." I remember him having his Big chicken and us all having a great time that night. The last two I'll share come from one of our many family vacations to the Bahamas. On our last couple of trips there, we had to rent 2 boats to carry all of the folks. Kyle was always the captain on the boat with the kids. He always took his responsibility seriously and I always felt my children were in good hands with him at the helm. But, it was watching him captain the boat that stands out. He always looked like he was having such fun in this tropical paradise. Lastly, one day in the Bahamas we were all snorkeling on a particularly beautiful reef and I was struggling as usual to get down to coral heads about 15 feet down. As I glanced over I saw Kyle in about 25 feet of water cruising along as if he didn't have a care in the world. He looked so peaceful and serene as he patiently surveyed the reefs. These are some of many great times I recall, but it was his love of life, family and friends that I will remember most.

With much love,
Jim O'Neill 

"One of my fondest early memories of Kyle was when he was a young child, maybe four or five years old, dancing to The Jungle Book tune “I Wanna Be Like You” as the character Mowgli. I recall he was very darkly tanned and thin and had the arm-swinging down to the point that he could have passed for the real thing! I have thought of that moment many a time over the years, and it has always brought a smile to my face.

In subsequent years, our families have had the pleasure of sharing many meals together, from Thanksgiving leftovers to Low-Country Boils at the farm. Somewhere in all of that, I learned that Kyle and I had in common a love of hot sauce. I always enjoyed looking in the pantry to see the latest heartburn-inducing assortment of sauces he had collected!

In more recent years, our family got to spend a lot of time with the Lowrey-Broom’s vacationing together in the Bahamas several times. On one of the first trips, I remember noticing how Kyle and David included our considerably-younger boys in their activities. In particular, I recall their staying up late into the night learning how to play poker. Most young men of Kyle’s age would have been annoyed with the younger boys, but he never was, and in fact seemed to enjoy their company.

On our most recent trip to the Bahamas, Kyle captained a boat just for the kids. He was very patient with them and I never worried about their safety while in his care. Our kids especially loved one of the last days of the trip on the water. Kyle would get the boat up to a pretty fast speed, then they would take turns jumping off opposite sides of the boat by two’s; this was one of the highlights of the trip for our children.

Lastly, it has stuck me over the last several years just how close David and Kyle were. Being quite the night owl myself, I used to see them up until all hours of the night, just talking and hanging out. Topics ranged from the mundane to the philosophical, but it was always apparent how much they enjoyed being together and respected each other’s point of view. I feel fortunate to have witnessed such a special bond."

Suzanne Morgan

Hi Sherry,

I'm sorry it has taken me a few days to respond. The news of Kyle's passing has stunned me, and I wanted to take some time to digest my thoughts before writing back. Kyle was enrolled in a course titled "American Film and Television, 1945-1965." He was a standout student. I just re-read a paper he wrote on the 1952 western HIGH NOON. It was remarkable work then and it remains so now. He was a stellar writer and a thoughtful critic. I remember fondly the way he embraced a new assignment I was trying out. Each student in the class was assigned a historical figure from the period we were investigating. Then, they created an online social media profile for them, and then they interacted with one another online and in character. Kyle was assigned John F. Kennedy, and the profile was so in-depth. He even posted a few flirtatious messages on Marilyn Monroe's page! Kyle's work on that assignment still makes me smile. He had a way of taking an idea and making it reach its full potential.

Once the class ended, Kyle and I lost touch, something I deeply regret. The next semester I was offered a job at Bates College, and I moved to Maine that summer. Judging from his obituary Kyle went on his own journey, and what a journey it was?! He was an amazing person. Having spent just a few short months with him, I know how thoughtful he was. And I can only imagine how engaging the conversations would have been as he considered life's bigger questions. Even though I was the teacher and he was the student, I learned a lot from him, and I'm sure I would have found those conversations to be insightful and thrilling.

You concluded your first email to me with "With much gratitude for making my son's world a better place." Kyle was here for too short a time, and the world is clearly worse off without him. But I'm thankful that I got to share some time with him while he was here. He made my work more enjoyable; he made my world a better place, and I'll be thinking about him a lot in the years to come. Thank you for raising an amazing son. It's really an inspiration and the love that you have for him is an example for all of us to follow.

With my deepest sympathy,
Jon Cavellero

PS - If you have that list of Kyle's 20 favorite films handy, I'd love to see it. They will find their way onto my films to watch/re-watch list, and if I can work it out, they might make an appearance on a syllabus in the near future where I'll be sure to introduce them as one of "Kyle's picks."

From the very first time I met Kyle, I knew he was special. Kyle was not only a handsome young man but also a very sweet and thoughtful person. After some personal tragedies, Kyle reached out to me each time to not only express his concern and sympathy, but to also lend an ear to talk. Kyle may have been young, but he was mature way beyond his years. He had such compassion and empathy. Kyle truly had a sweet soul. Kyle has left this world way too soon but it is a better place because of him. I will miss him very much.

Jane Redmond

I am so terribly sorry about Kyle. I pray that God will ease some of the pain for your family. I wanted to say a few things for your Journal. I first met Kyle when he came to the cancer center to shadow you. He was such a fine-looking young man. He was professional, kind and thoughtful. He was very self-confident for his young age. The patients thought he was so nice just like his father. I also remember he loved dogs and when he went to college he wanted his dog Bear at the college with him. His adventuresome and fun-loving personality led him to The Great Outdoors where he was a Whitewater River Rafting guide. I can only imagine that everyone had a wonderful trip with Kyle as their guide. He gave them a lot of fond memories to take back home from their rafting excursion. Kyle will be missed by so many but he will live in our hearts forever.

Roxanne Lee 

Dear Sherry,

Please accept my deepest condolences for the loss of your wonderful son Kyle; he was a tremendous friend to me during our time together at the U of A. His heart will live on through the people he touched with his kind soul, of which there were many.

I remember the first time I came into contact with Kyle, which was shortly after I changed majors to switch to Civil Engineering. I took notice initially, not because we introduced ourselves to each other, but by the questions he would ask during our classes. It quickly became clear that Kyle has a unique and profound mind. His questions were frequently philosophical, and he always was seeking to find the greater meaning, or the hidden impacts, of any issues we were discussing. His relaxed nature and depth of his inquisitiveness gave me no choice but to get to know him better outside of the classes that we took together. We quickly became closer outside of school than inside of it, and would talk more about life and purpose than we would of engineering. Kyle was one of the most thoughtful individuals I have ever come across and our conversations together helped us both grow with our understanding of the world. Never judgmental, Kyle was forever willing to understand the other side of the coin. He knew that the surface of things was simply that, just the surface. I was pleasantly reminded of this while reading what he dedicated his life to after school, and I would not have expected any less from him. He was interested and invested in so many different aspects of live, and that impressed me to no end. From his love for classical music, to which he expanded my vocabulary of by leaps and bounds, to his drive to be there for anyone and everyone in need. His heart was massive and he gave it all for the benefit of others. He was one of the most selfless people I've ever met. I remember him telling me that in his free time he liked to drive around and absorb the area that he was in; forever curious what was around the next bend.

I will miss Kyle deeply, but his compassion will live in me and through me. I will honor his memory with this.

Sincerely,

Robert Helvey

Kyle was one of our most skilled boaters and we never hesitated to put nervous guests with him. He imparted a sense of calm and trustworthiness and he was wonderful with children. He was sometimes quiet around the warehouse, but when guests would arrive he would light up and make everyone smile and feel right at home. He was an entertainer to the fullest.

Kyle was always so kind and polite and he had the best manners, such a good role model for our kids. Miles, Finley, and Oliver really enjoyed spending time with him and he made a point to give them his attention when they spoke with him.

Dave & Heather Denning
The River Company

My memories of Kyle are all good ones. He was always quiet with our crew, but happy to do anything for our family and business. Being the skilled boater he was, I leaned on him many times in a challenging low water season. Not necessarily a memory, but one of the things I valued most in Kyle was his stoicism. Many kids his age are looking for feedback or approval from their peers. Kyle knew what he wanted from this experience and did not seem to mind what others were doing or asking him to do.

Dave Denning

One memory that stands out was on the bus ride home after a river trip. We spoke for 30-40 minutes about how much he enjoyed writing and philosophy. He spoke of how his brother was into film and they had plans to work together with him on the writing end and his brother on the filming end. It seemed like a perfect match and I could tell how much he loved and respected his brother.

Heather Denning

After one of our guide dinners, me and Kyle were sitting on one of the boat trailers talking about our favorite books and he gave me some book recommendations. One was Moby Dick, he said it was his favorite book. (NOTE from Miles’ parents: This summer Miles and I are going to read Moby Dick in Kyle's honor.)

Miles Denning

Kyle was really smart and really nice to me.
Fin Denning

Here are a few photos from last summer. We had a lot of fun times together and he was a great member of our crew. 

Please know that we have so many good memories of Kyle. He was one of the best. Sending love your way,

Heather and Dave Denning 

I only met Kyle a handful of times but I can tell you that he made a big impression on me. One word that kept popping in my head was “unforgettable.” I’ll tell you why. One of the first times that I was around him for any length of time was when you all came for a visit to see mama when I was living there. Kyle was just a little boy, he was kind, sweet and polite. I knew in my heart that he was going to grow to be a wonderful man. So, it was no surprise when I met him several years later, he was just that and more. The last time saw Kyle I remember thinking that I could still see that kindhearted, sweet and talented little boy. I immediately admired him because of the similarities I had also seen in my sweet cousin, Sherry, his mother. And that's why he'll always be “unforgettable.”

Bridgett Cantrell

You don’t come across young people like Kyle every day. I only had the opportunity to speak to him a couple of times, but the conversation I had with him the last time really stands out in my mind. I was asking him about his experiences, education, and adventures. He began to reveal how much he had experienced in such a short time with very thoughtful commentary. He then turned the conversation around and asked about what I did and my thoughts in general. I told him about the research I had conducted that pertained to human behavior, in which he was very interested, and he described more his thoughts and aspirations that revealed an incredibly socially conscious young man; ahead of his years, but very humble in his opinions. I have no doubt that Kyle had an impact on everyone around him and that he left the world a little bit better than it was before this Earth was blessed with him. I wish I could have had more conversations with him. Kyle is a tribute to and a reflection of his family. My heart goes out to you all, but I’m sure he lives on through his family and friends, and everyone he touched.

James Hutcherson

I want to organize my thoughts but I am afraid I will forget or not explain fully. Please forgive me if I seem to ramble. My dad once told me that Sherry is one of the people you just want to be around. I think it is a family trait. I didn't know Kyle for many years other than through photos every holiday season. Life would be busy throughout the year and we would go along our daily routines with not much thought beyond that. Thoughts of who we were connected to were often fast passing on our way to sit in the pickup line at school, to our next meeting, or even to our next moment when we must check up on moms, dads, sisters, best friends and all the other multitude of things that fill our daily lives. But once a year, I was reminded of family and connections to them with a Christmas card of my Broom/Lowrey family. And there every year was that smile. Gosh he just oozed happy. But it wasn't until I got to sit down with Kyle, whom I had got to see grow through pictures, that I was truly wowed. It was a couple of years back at our reunion in Edneyville. He and David were downstairs teaching my son, Gabe, about the game of ping pong or pool. I don't remember the game as much as how they had so much patience with this eight/nine-year-old. I took that opportunity to talk to each of them a little about what they were currently doing in their lives. Kyle told me he was a whitewater rafting guide in Tennessee. He explained some of his travels to me and I was in awe. We often look back at our young adulthood and say "I wish I had." I thought then that Kyle wouldn't have such thoughts because he didn't wish, he did. He was in the world like a sponge absorbing it. People go on vacations to destinations all over, but we see sights and yes, sometimes go off the beaten path, but Kyle was experiencing life in these places. He experienced what it was to work there, live there, know people there. He built relationships, he built a family with the world. He connected with the world. You know the term "larger than life?" When I think of Kyle that’s what I think of. It started with a smile that was that way, but it became so much more. I still sit in awe of him. I could have sat there all day listening to him. He was one of the people you just want to be around to connect with. Thank you, Kyle for sharing just a little bit of yourself with me, my son and the world.

I don't know if this helps Sherry, but it is what is in my brain, my heart. Thank you for parenting such an amazing young man.

I love you.
Judy Lynn Arrowood Summerrow

Fortunately, I was able to watch Kyle grow and mature over time. Gerald and I worked in the same office starting when Kyle was an infant. During this period of development for Kyle, we saw a young boy become a handsome man and upstanding member of the community. Often, Gerald would update us with pride on the successes of Kyle in all aspects of becoming a young man. From academics to athletics, Kyle always made his parents proud. Periodically, I would catch up with Kyle, usually at a party at his house or a special occasion. To me, he was charming, witty and intelligent. I noticed he was always attentive to his grandmother. Always asking questions about what I was doing and asking for explanations. His inquisitive mind was admirable. It seemed he wanted to learn about everything and all there was to know about each topic. I especially appreciated Kyle's respect and courtesy to other people. He has left a void in a wonderful family, and I feel the loss that my friend and his family have suffered.

Tim & Sandy Edwards

To summarize the essence of Kyle, I will use four different categories:

1. His Comfort with Himself and his outgoing charm was particularly on display on Christmas Eve 2013 at our annual Messiah.  Kyle was 100% unashamed to sing out.  He was not in the least self-conscious about how his voice was being perceived by others but rather exuded confidence in himself - something that my father tried to instill in his own children was being acted out right in front of all 3 of them in the human form of his grandson, Kyle.  My father was all about "exposing your core", and Kyle had it going on in spades that evening.  I was such a proud aunt!  This event made a lasting impression on me and was something that other observers could absorb and use as a model for their own behavior.  

2. His desire to Teach and Encourage

We had a "guest tenor" that Christmas Eve 2013, Jeremy, who was having a bit of trouble finding the right pitch. Kyle, sensing the embarrassment that Jeremy was probably feeling, quickly and successfully assisted him to be able to sing his part.  On another occasion, he saw that Katie was getting so outdone with my telling her how to practice the piano that he felt moved to ameliorate the situation, so he jumped in and offered his knowledge and experience on how she should approach the piece she was learning.

3. His desire to Uplift Others

When he was a new driver of about 16, I backed my car into his dad's Infinity, which he was driving that evening and which was parked in Elizabeth's driveway.  I was so upset at how negligent I was and how that had never happened before.  He quickly told me to think about the number of years that I had been driving to have never had a mishap like that.  He said that he had just begun to drive and he was sure he would make mistakes in the future.  He told me that I was distracted and worried about some instruction that I was giving to Katie.  Finally, he took the blame by saying that he parked in a bad spot.  I quickly set that record straight and told him that he parked in the perfect spot, parking even further back than necessary foreseeing that people might need space to back out.  The moral of this story is that he did make me feel better . . . until I had to make the phone call to his dad telling him that my front bumper accidentally kissed his front bumper as I was backing out of the driveway.  

Another instance was when I spoke with him in about late summer of 2016.  He expressed an interest in being a travelling guide / EMT.  He felt he would be able to assist and counsel others and be a calming effect on them in a time of crisis.  I know firsthand that he would have been awesome at that job.

4. Impart Wisdom

 Katie, when she was around 10 years old (Kyle would have been 16 years old) said, "Kyle is my life coach."

Two very special letters he wrote to Katie, one for her 16th birthday and one for her 19th birthday, so illustrated his desire to guide her and to offer his knowledge and experience as well as his love.  Katie and I both saved those letters because they made such an impact on both of us.

Closing

Not only did you touch your close family and circle of friends but also others whose journeys put them on the same path as yours, others with whom you may have had some extended contact with, like other teenagers you camped with on one of your trips out west who were so moved by your wisdom and counsel that they singled you out as the campmate that they most admired.

Kyle, you are a special gem bestowed on the Lowrey and Broom families, always sensitive and interested in the plight of others. Always wanting to learn and understand the big picture of human behavior.   In your short life here on this earth, you have inextricably woven yourself into the fabric of our souls.  You will never be forgotten and will always be honored for the wonderful human being that you were. Our lives have been enriched by our connection with you. 

Love,
Your Aunt Melanie Lowrey Sparr

To Kyle, with Love, from Bea

Kyle, it was wonderful to sing “And The Glory of The Lord” with you Christmas 2015. One thing for sure, I thought I would have time to talk to you and speak of family virtues in my future visits. Kyle, out of nowhere, you suddenly taught me and everyone who loves you that life is short. You stopped us cold and made us think about how fragile we are in our own little worlds. You brought us to our knees in sorrow, and with that, we hold forever the sweet Kyle that you will always be. Inasmuch as you left us too soon, we will carry your CREED as a rite of passage in your honor. You enlightened us with your Compassion, as you fought the good fight and had given to so many. You Realistically followed your dreams, without waiver or superficiality. Your intentions were Earnest, never coveting or grasping. Your Eagerness for accomplishment set you apart, as you undertook many lifestyles to deliver your promises. Your Determination and strength defined you, and you never looked back.

When Christmas is nigh and I visit again, I will listen for you Kyle, and rejoice with you and the glory of The Lord.

Beatrice Johnston

At one of our family reunions I had this wonderful and memorable opportunity to talk with Kyle who spoke of things he liked.. like going on to school and his interests in travel and music. My thoughts are, what a sweet, respectful young man who seems to know of new roads to come.. my thoughts are that our journeys are never over and Kyle's is special and unique.. Kyle is like a treasure to keep and hold dearly. Kyle will remain forever in our hearts. I feel so fortunate to have spoken with him on that special day.

Donna Pifer

I am so saddened to hear of Kyle’s passing. I didn’t attend the Belize trip as a student, but at that time I was the faculty-led programs coordinator in the Office of Study Abroad, and thus I was Kyle’s study abroad advisor (along with 400 other students attending faculty-led programs that summer) and helped him on the logistics of attending the trip. I also conducted a site visit while the group was in Belize and had the opportunity to see the great work they were doing. I worked with hundreds of students in my days at the study abroad office and I don’t remember every student, but I do remember Kyle, particularly how gracious, kind, and polite he was. I learned a lot more about him by reading the obituary, and I am impressed by his passion for adventure and service. I know that all those who knew him will remember him so fondly for such heartfelt passion.

Most sincerely,
Meredith Adkins
University of Arkansas

My deepest condolences for your loss. While I only knew Kyle for a short time, I worked on both of the engineering projects with him in Belize. He seemed very reserved at first, but spending every day with him made me realize that he wasn't, if you got to know him. He was such an intelligent and hard-working student, and he made working hard every day an enjoyable event. I remember him being the most passionate about the projects and was a leader those 3 weeks. On a lighter note, I have never met someone who loved hot sauce as much as him. He put it on everything he ate and eventually had me doing the same by the time we left. Even to this day, I'll think about him when I'm buying hot sauce or putting it on my food.

I will be thinking about your family during this time and wishing the best for y'all.

Regards,
Amanda Collins

In the time I have gotten to know Kyle, I have been so very impressed.

When I first met him on the day Bruce and I married, he was so sweet and quiet and gave me the warmest hug and although we couldn't see him every time we came to Florida, when we did he always had a smile and a hug. I enjoyed his wit and his love for music (what a beautiful tenor voice).

Thank you, Kyle for the wonderful person you always were.

Love,
Lyn Aque 😊

I watched Kyle grow up over the years, but living out state limited those opportunities to spend time with him. What I observed as he matured was an intelligent, talented and thoughtful young man possessing abundant love for his family. Moments that stand out were at the now traditional Lowrey family holiday singing events inspired by Elizabeth. Kyle and myself were the tenors of the group, and I will always be grateful his strong and vibrant voice was able to support my inadequate vocal talent. Seeing all he accomplished at such a young age is remarkable, and the world will be a little less bright without his light shining in it.

Love,
Bruce Aque

Memories I will never forget, Kyle always asking me to stay the night to get me away from my home, which happened to be often. I felt part of the family seeing Mr. Gerald or Mrs. Sherry show up in the driveway a few times a week. I would open the door and the first thing I would here Kyle say, ''Mom turn the music up, this is a song that we like!'' No lie, I knew so much about artists lives and literature knowing Kyle. In school, I would get my test back and look at Kyle and ask, "What did you make on your test!?! Kyle would say, “I got a 98” and look at me disappointed! I would be like, are you kidding me!?! Lol I would show him my 80 and we would both start laughing until we couldn’t think straight or until the teacher told us to hush. We had each other’s backs no matter what in school, and out of school we found so much to do. We had our own band. We would play so loud I was afraid of the neighbors complaining. We were kids and we just went with the flow. I remember riding dirt bikes until dark at the property. I could never keep up with him, let’s just say a couple trees might have been cut through trying to find a short cut to catch up with him!

I remember when we were in Tennessee, Kyle and I were all dressed up coming into the nicest hotel and I looked up at the counter and the woman was just sitting there staring at us like she might have thought we were of age. Every day we would walk past her and give her a smile like we knew that we were her type, and she would smile back. Kyle and I would sit up for hours talking about how she loved us and how we could probably be her boyfriend at 12 years old.

There are so many other stories that I can share, but Kyle and I had no other friendship that could have been invented by God. Everything we shared we liked and every conversation was always put into some country slang talk that nobody else understood but us. That was our way of living and cutting up. At the same time, I learned so much just having conversations with him. He taught me more about academics than the teachers could. That was always another way to be able to spend the night, getting help with homework. Kyle will always be my best friend and won’t be replaced. He changed my life and redirected my future just being my friend. I can't explain the love this entire family has and I cherish every moment.

Love you best buddy and I will see you again!

Jacob Bell

Kyle was a gentle, patient, generous and kind soul. A memory that I have of him is when we all got together to watch a western (maybe No Country for Old Men) with our conversation club (that we led together at the University of Arkansas). Kyle realized about half way through that the students we were with may not have been able to understand the Texan accent the actors were speaking with in the movie and paused to ask the group. They were relieved that he did because they were having a hard time following the movie! That thought had never crossed my mind! He paused the movie to turn on the subtitles, and everyone was a lot better off. That's the impression I got of Kyle. He was very caring and thoughtful.

Sarah Rasmussen

My family and friends met Kyle on the river in Idaho last summer. We were on the river with him twice and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. A very bright, intelligent and well-spoken young man. He was living in Stanley and we were staying in Sun Valley and I offered to bring him groceries because I knew it was very limited in Stanley. We asked him a lot of questions that day and he seemed to open up more and more as the day went on. I have a 25 and 21-year-old son and I can't imagine how hard it is for you during this time. Kyle sure did a lot in the short time he was here and he is an inspiration to us all. I will share his obituary with all my friends and family. You and your husband should be very proud of the man he became.

Warmest regards,

Jeff Parks

Dear friend Kyle, I would have wanted this moment to never come. The day of your departure was one of the saddest days of my life, because I said goodbye forever to a great friend. You left us very fast, the Lord called you to his side much sooner than we could have imagined. It causes me a deep sorrow and sadness to have to say these last words to you, but I do not want you to leave without telling you that having your friendship and your family’s has been one of the best things that has happened in my life, and together with your family I have passed the best, grateful and unchanging moments that will never be erased from my memory. The lessons that you left us while you lived are as valuable as the great friendship that you always gave us. You were a simple person, honest and exemplary, a unique and irreplaceable friend. Now that your body rests the eternal dream and your soul is in paradise, your memory will remain in our hearts forever. "Goodbye my friend,” I will always keep you in my lifetime.

Jesus Arias

One of my fondest memories of Kyle is when he was I think 3 years old and David was an infant. Sherry, me and the two boys were shopping. We were in a store and I had Kyle in the stroller. I was pushing him around the store, to keep him entertained while Sherry was shopping. She had David in her arms. While I strolled Kyle around the store, he was so happy singing out loud the songs from the Lion King. He knew the lyrics perfectly, his enunciation was so clear, and he sang to the right melody. I remember the looks we got from people hearing him singing so happily and so well for a little guy. I was single with no kids at the time, so this was my moment to feel proud as a mom. I love you Kyle for this special moment in my life and for giving many more blessings and very proud occasions throughout the years.

I love you, my dear friend, ❤️🙏🏼
Lourdes Tan

I always admired Kyle’s wisdom and introspect. I remember when I was younger, we would have simple conversations, but his questions, reasoning, and comments were so clever and unique. Kyle was exactly that: one-of-a-kind and respectable. I often looked up to how intelligent he sounded and how truly knowledgeable he was about absolutely anything and everything. Other than his sophisticated personality, he was so enjoyable to be around. I still recall the board games that he played with me my first time I visited when I was about 6 years old. Monopoly was definitely a favorite. Other visits, I also remember enjoying the mini soccer games played with the boys in the backyard with the FIFA World Cup ball. Even more memorable was the multiple Bahamas vacations. Those summers, I would be so excited for the trip, especially because of the lots of fun and the new memories created each year with my second family. I specifically remember being entertained by Kyle’s singing and impersonations. I remember always being so clueless and laughing, and how he had a big smile on his face as he captained the boat so confidently and would repeat the same phrases in a deeper voice. He was also so good at spearing lobster and he was the one that showed me how to catch my first lobster. Even so, I always loved being on his boat because it was the young people's boat. I would have to say that one of my favorite moments was when on his boat, I had so much fun jumping off the moving boat at the end of a day as a tradition, while Kyle would pick us up over and over again. I will miss you so much Kyle, but I am so grateful to have shared and created so many memories with you in my childhood, where I felt as if you were an older brother I never had.

Jenny Arias

Kyle had an amazing laugh. He would lean back and this tremendous grin would spread across his When I close my eyes and think of Kyle, I travel back to a time when Kyle would have been in second or third grade. I first remember seeing him in my next-door neighbor’s yard. Kyle was there for boy scout projects and to play. I remember a well-mannered child with a sweet smile and contagious laughter. As a substitute teacher at R. C. Lipscomb Elementary, I would frequently see Kyle in the halls. He always had a smile on his face. Kyle's friendly, caring disposition opened many doors. I shall forever remember your sweet Kyle as a gentle soul; a rarity in today's world. Kyle had the courage to leave school and follow his dreams. He was beyond fortunate to have parents and a brother who supported him. Kyle struck me as a reflective individual. I can say with certainty, Kyle knew how blessed he was to have you for his family.

With abundant sympathy,
Kim J. Markey

I am deeply saddened to hear of Kyle's passing. Kyle and I lived together at the University of Arkansas for a year with two other roommates. Kyle and I would often stay up late at night debating many topics on philosophy, travel, cooking, education - really anything and everything. I remember one particular evening where we discussed his desire to sail around the world. We poured over various maps and talked about skills, supplies and ship designs. I was always truly impressed with his insatiable desire to explore. If you got a laugh out of Kyle, you know you had told a great story. He had a tremendous appreciation for expanding his own knowledge by engaging with others in sharing their hobbies, ideas and passions. When meeting someone who was passionate about a new topic, Kyle would become so excited at the chance of garnering a new life experience. For me it was always cooking, geography and language. I recall once when I had made a huge Indian dinner for the house that took several days to prepare. Once it was finally on the table, I think Kyle was more excited than I was! He wanted to know the proper way to eat everything, how it was prepared, the Tamil names, why we would do one thing over another. His eagerness and excitement meant a lot in those moments. In fact, one of the things that sticks in my mind when I think about myself is actually something Kyle said to me one night. "Chris, I love hearing your opinion on things. You either hate something,or absolutely adore it." I laugh about that still. Kyle - with all his passions, humor and curiosity - was a man to adore. I wish you and your family well through this time. As someone who has gone through my own losses, it is always in the celebration of those we loved that we find peace.

Best,
Chris Moon

My name is Robert Lee and I met Kyle and David on our trip to Italy back in 2013. First off, I want to say that I am totally shocked at the news of Kyle's passing, it seems like just yesterday me and him got together for lunch at Jordan Valley to catch up a couple of years back. Please give my thoughts to his brother, David, and let him know that his Italy pals are there for him. Hopefully we can get together for a catch-up dinner at Bonelli's sometime in the near future. 

For some reason, while it wasn't a significant event, one memory sticks out about Kyle from our trip. We were staying on a little, quiet island in Venice called Lido. I remember one of our first nights we were there, the sun was going down and we were all getting ready to go to dinner or go out for some evening drinks. Kyle and David were sitting at a little cafe outside our hotel (which was Hotel Helvetia) and I had wanted to take a little excursion to the Piazza San Marco to see Venice all lit up at night before we had dinner on Lido. Kyle was a little weary on going (I'm sure he was tired from all the traveling we had just done), but I was able to convince him to tag along and we explored the maze of alleyways and canals of Venice together that night along with some of our other fellow travelers. I am glad he tagged along as I believe he had a great time. I know I definitely did.

Again, my condolences for your loss. Kyle was one of the more unique individuals I have ever met, and I mean that in the best of ways. He is someone, though I hadn't been around him much outside of our Italy trip, that I will never forget. That trip to Italy is where I believe I found my soulmate, Chelsea, and it was the most fun I have ever had, hands down. And Kyle was a part of that trip, and thus he will forever be a part of my greatest memories.

Sincerely,
Robert Lee

I don't pretend to have really known Kyle, my association with him was through his father, but my favorite memory of Kyle is when he was a young boy who would visit his father at work. Kyle would wear Dr. Lowrey's lab coat, which would absolutely swallow his small body, and he'd play in the exam room, pretending to be a doctor. As he got older, I'd hear stories of how the entire family would go out to dinner and a movie most weekends, and I always thought what a close family they have, where teenage sons would actually be seen in the company of their parents in places they were likely to be seen by their peers.

Maureen Gallagher

Kyle was my student in the fall 2012 class of Construction Management at the University of Arkansas. The class is interactive and each member was encouraged to participate showing their individual abilities to communicate and understand management roles in the business of engineering. This class was a very special group of young men and women for me. Kyle willingly expressed himself as being particularly diligent and attentive, working very hard with his expressed goal that he was going to make an “A” in my class. He took advantage of every extra participation opportunity and needless to say he achieved his goal. It pleased me greatly to have the privilege of getting to know him and it is my honor to pen this memory.

C. Larry Weir, P.E.
Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering (retired)
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Arkansas

I was fortunate enough to meet Kyle while working with his Dad. He was young when I first talked to him, but we talked like we were the same age...and I loved it! He was wise and loving beyond his years. I enjoyed every time I saw him. There was always a sweet smile on his face and he was always so polite. After he graduated and went off to school I would ask how he was doing and his Dad was always happy to tell me how things were going. Seeing all of Kyle's accomplishments, I know he lived his life to the fullest and left a permanent stamp on every person he met. He visited and worked in some of the most wonderful and beautiful places and the good works that he did will live on forever. He will be greatly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him!

Love,
Chris Mason

A few years ago, when I was in the depth of college, Kyle knew that I was really struggling with working two jobs and dealing with trying to get good grades. In a beautifully poetic way (classic Kyle) he bought me a gift. The gift, he explained had a hidden meaning. The night he gave it to me, I remember having a very profound and optimistic conversation with him--he was encouraging me to never give up on my goals and dreams. The gift he gave me was a framed picture of a lighthouse during a storm. He explained that the picture represented perseverance and that no matter what life throws at you, there is always a beacon on the horizon guiding you to something better. I've had that picture for a few years now and, no matter where I've lived, make sure it's the first thing I see every morning when I wake up as a constant reminder of the message he was giving me. I never got a chance to tell him just how much that simple gift meant to me--more than once I've given his gift credit for literally saving my life. I love Kyle, David, and you guys way beyond words. I hope that Kyle's message to me of hope, optimism, and inspiration can comfort you a little bit in this terrible time. I love you guys,

Garett Griffin

I have a wonderful memory of Kyle when he told me he was growing his hair to donate it for cancer patients. It was the first time we met and his hair was gorgeous. He wasn't trying to make a fashion statement or trying to be cool, he just wanted to do something kind for others and this was long before his mom's cancer diagnosis. I always enjoyed his hair appointments because we talked about his current adventures and his plans for the future. All the things he aspired to do were centered around service in some way. I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to get to know such a kind, thoughtful and intelligent young man and I appreciate that through Kyle I was able to meet the rest of the family that meant so much to him. 

Pamela Provencher

I only knew Kyle for a day, when a friend and I went to visit him in Aspen. It has stayed with me as a lovely day, where I was welcomed into the camaraderie of these two fellows, and they comfortably let me fall in like the old friends they were. Our conversations rambled lightly and ran deep; the harder questions; easy laughter. It was a day that happens rarely in my life, the gentle passing of time with no constraints and an interesting new person with whom one immediately feels open. It was easy, and I wouldn’t call it causal. In its way it was an honor, and it has stayed with me. I am appreciative of having shared that time.

--Lauretta Prevost, friend-of-a-friend who became a friend on a summer day in Colorado

Best of thoughts and lots of love,

Lauretta Prevost

I am very sorry to hear of your loss. As I said on the online site, Kyle was a great classmate and an inquisitive learner. I enjoyed my conversations with him while we were at the University of Arkansas, and I admired his desire to make friends and find ways to help make the world a better place.

Below is a picture of one of my proudest memories of college, which Kyle was a part of. We were in a class learning about concrete mix design, and part of our year-end lab assignment was a competition to make the strongest concrete. We worked well together as a team, and in the end we succeeded in making a mix of concrete that could withstand 21,130 pounds per square inch, the best in the class that year.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and his family.

Sincerely,
Joseph Gerke

I woke up this morning to your email and am feeling pretty devastated.  Whenever I think back to my time with the Appalachian Trail, meeting Kyle and sharing the conversations we did is one of the highlights, and I was so happy to meet up with him again in Colorado.  Kyle was not only a very smart, funny guy, he was also one of the sweetest, kindest, sensitive, and thoughtful people I have ever met.  He was the type of person that, if everyone in the world was like him, the world would be a much better, more peaceful place.  This is tragic.  I don't know if Kyle knew how much I respected him and valued the times we had together, but I really hope he did, as now I won't get the chance to ever tell him.  I had lost his contact info when my old phone broke, and didn't know how to track him down again, but I had always intended to meet up with him more.  I wish I had gotten to speak with him again, but I've always thought of him as a friend.

Here are a few brief stories and impressions:

When I first really talked to Kyle, it was in a cabin in Maryland the night before a work project began, and I was just trying to get to know everyone on my crew, as we would be living and working together for the next week.  He came across to me as shy at first, but once we got onto the subject of books, he opened up and we talked for a few hours, especially about Moby Dick, which is also one of my favorite books.  For work, we often had to drive for four or five hours from PA to Bear Mountain, New York, and Kyle would talk about all sorts of different topics knowledgeably and interestingly.  I can remember it being everything from Billy Joel to the psychology of the frontier to his family.  We had a British couple doing academic research work with us for a few weeks, and whenever they would start on things about the United Sates, from gun control to the Revolutionary War, Kyle would gently, respectfully, yet brilliantly debate them.  He told this great riddle once that I can't remember the details of, but it was about a king and two sorcerers trying to invent a poison potion and antidote.  There are ideas and insights he shared that I think about to this day.

When we met back up in Colorado, a woman we had worked with during the Appalachian Trail days had just gotten engaged, so we wrote congratulations on a napkin, took a picture of the two of us holding it, and sent it out to her.

He had been talking about going to be a river guide in Tennessee next, and I'm glad to hear that he did.  He said he was trying out everything, just to see what would stick.  

The world has lost a fine young man much too early.  I can't even imagine the pain your family must be going through.  My father died a few years ago and I can still remember the look of agony on my grandmother's face when she found out.  This isn't the way things are supposed to happen.  This isn't how things are supposed to go.

Something Kyle would have appreciated: The Latin word magnanimous literally translates as "Big-Souled."  Kyle had one of the biggest souls around.

I know words can't ease the hurt, but my deepest condolences.  

With a heavy heart,
Matt Crowley-Miano

My heart saddens with you this day.  Please accept kindness and support from myself (and many others who will read your email this day).

Each SOLO participant who joined your son left better for his contributions.  Josh taught a difficult and fair course while everyone lifted one another whether with knowledge / humor or stories of their individual desire to enter into activities where our SOLO training would benefit others.  

Kyle made this decision; even though his generous emergency medical training would impact many he likely may not know.

Prayers for Kyle, mother and family.

Chris P.

If a mother is mourning not for what she has lost but for what her dead child has lost, it is a comfort to believe that the child has not lost the end for which it was created.

C.S. Lewis, Irish poet and author

My name is Ryan Holt. My heart sank and a stillness overcame me when reading of this news… my deepest condolences to you and your family. I had the pleasure of spending my two clinical requirements (one at the EMS station and the other at the hospital ER) with Kyle. It was a very calm evening at the ER so Kyle and I sat and talked to each other the entire time. He got me to open up about my time in Afghanistan & Iraq, he was genuinely interested and tentative and understanding. He wanted to know ME.  He had such a great energy about him!!! He told me about his passions of interviewing people, filming, writing, production and editing. He spoke of pursuing this, writing a script or filming a documentary of sorts, if I remember correctly. I remember leaving my clinical with him and being grateful that I got to spend time getting to know such a wonderful human being. I gave him a rough copy of a chapter I wrote (Titled: How I met myself) in a recently published book and he was excited to read it and give me feedback. I was looking forward to crossing paths again someday with Kyle and share stories of our travels since SOLO… as infinite beings, I'm still looking forward to that day. Sending you all the light & love & healing energy I have from the Mountains of Maine and thank you for raising such a wonderful Man. 

Sincerely,
Ryan Holt

I wanted to take a minute and express how sorry I am for your loss.  Your son was part of an amazing class and frankly a group of people that all came together at SOLO to further their knowledge so they could help others.  I remember most of my students, but the class from October 2016 still holds a special place in my heart and memory.  Your son’s class was filled with talented bright people from all different paths in life that came together to form an insanely talented EMT group.

When I saw the email pop up today I was curious what amazing things Kyle had gone on to do.  Your son was a person that seemed to fit in with every group of people he worked with in the class.  He was always smiling and having fun, while bringing professionalism and a drive to achieve during every scenario and clinical that he went through in his time with us at the school.

It is hard to believe that someone like your son has been taken away far too early.  I am sorry for your loss and the loss of such an amazing person that touched countless lives in his time.  Please let me know if there is anything that we can do at the school to help you or your family out in this unbelievably hard time.  I am happy to help any way that I can.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Josh MacMillan

Well, l know it's taken me a long time to write this, but it's so hard because writing this means that I have to let you go and I am not willing to do that. But, here goes. The one of many memories I have of you is when we were getting groceries out of the car and you came up to me and said, “Well, now that you are family, give me a hug.” That was one of the best days of my life, that he thought that of me … that I wasn’t only the housekeeper, I was now a member of his family. 

I love you Kyle and always will,

Penny McCall 💔

I only knew Kyle for a season (at Big Bear Rafting), but during that brief period of time he left a big impression.  I am so sorry for your loss.  He will be truly missed.  The following are pictures I have of him during that time:

My deepest condolences,
Meagan

I got the chance to meet Kyle when he came to the office to shadow Dr. Lowrey. I remember being excited to meet him. Dr. Lowrey had shared several stories of how Kyle had no idea how good looking he was and that he was oblivious to his admirers. From the many stories Dr. Lowrey shared with us I had the impression that Kyle had an old soul and that he was kind. When I met Kyle, he was strikingly handsome, he was kind, and beyond his years. He was everything his father made him out to be. He definitely left a lasting impression on us all. I also remembered he wore a nice vest the day he came to office and black shoes that left black scuff marks in all of the exam rooms. At that time, Roxanne was working with me and every time Kyle and Dr. Lowrey left an exam room, we went behind them and giggled as we rubbed the marks off the floor with the soles of our shoes. Since then, there have been several scuff marks left by others who have come to the office. Each one has reminded me of his lovely visit. 

Anh Nguyen

To Kyle, A beautiful soul with so much life and love in him it filled every place he walked into. His over accepting smile told everyone who saw him he was their friend and accepted you for who you were. I remember Kyle would come into a room and you could feel the life from him without turning to see who it was. He carried a peace about him that seemed to relax the air around him. I only worked at the home he lived in as a handy man with my wife, but could see his effect on the world in the little we knew of him. 

Your friend,
Sam Hensley 

P.S. we used to love it when he filled that house with his music......

The first time I met Kyle was when he was approximately 9 years old as he came to see his father at work. It was very evident that he was filled with admonition and love for his dad as he walked directly into his office to hug him. He was a a good-looking child that looked like his dad with his mom dark hair and beautiful dark eyes. He was a very intelligent young man that seemed like he was a very sensitive child even at that young age. As he grew older I never saw these characteristics change. He was always very polite and seemed like he was extremely empathetic and sensitive to everything around him. The most outstanding thing to me was how even as he grew older he never left the office without hugging his Dad. He gave the impression that his family was everything to him and in today's world that made him a very unique young man. 

Nancy Moore

I am incredibly sorry to hear about your loss. Kyle was one of the best parts about my summer in Tennessee. He was an amazing story teller, a kind soul, and I am forever grateful that I was able to spend the time I did with him. I have several GoPro videos of us rafting that I have spent the last couple hours watching. His enthusiasm for life was inspiring. You should be very proud of the man you raised. On another note, there was a book that he spoke of often to me, Blood Meridianby Cormac McCarthy. He is largely the only reason I read the book. I came to find out later that Ben Nichols, lead singer of one of my favorite bands, Lucero, recorded a solo album a few years ago based on the novel. The title track of the album is entitled "The last pale light in the west" and it always reminds me of Kyle. Likewise, he often spoke of his desire to visit the city of Chiang Mai, Thailand, a city I never heard of before meeting him. Well, shortly after leaving Tennessee, my girlfriend and I ended up going to Thailand and lived in Chiang Mai for a month. I never got to share these oddities of life with him, that I'm sure he would have accepted with a gentle smile and nod. I wish the best for you, and your family. 

Thank you for sharing your son with me,
Steve Arnold

Although I have many thoughts and memories about the short time Kyle's life and mine intersected, I would like to share one that stands out. It was late in the summer rafting season on the Pigeon River in 2014. I had spent the last couple months working as a raft guide with Kyle, sharing the upstairs room of the Big Bear boat house with him and 3 other dudes that I had only met at the start of the season. The day before, we had several inches of rainfall in the area. In rafting terms, a lot of rain yesterday equals 'big water' today. Kyle and myself had both guided our own boats on the first trip of the day. The river was amazing. It was the biggest, most ferocious we had seen it all summer. I don't really remember how that trip went. I'm sure I had a great time. I'm sure I got a good tip, and my customers left happy, but I really don't recall. On the other hand, I remember vividly my second trip of the day. It all started when Mitch, a senior guide at our company, mentioned what was popularly known by river veterans as 'Uppercut'. In the world of rafting, rivers are often broken down into parts, and names are given to describe what these parts look like, how they feel, or what happens to you when you fall out of the boat in them (ie. Vegomatic). So, Mitch describes this hole (a turbulent part of a river where the water churns, and is usually found after a big obstruction or fall) known as Uppercut as a special one. It only appears during very big water. Kyle was intrigued. Kyle quizzed Mitch about it, almost demanded that Mitch tell him everything there was to know about this Uppercut. The whole while, Kyle stared intently, his eyes focused, a slight smirk on his face. Uppercut was a rock, a big rock. It stood 2 feet out of the water on normal days. On a day when the water was 3 or 4 feet higher than usual, it became a giant hole. It was less than 100 yards after the boat ramp where every single raft, canoe, or kayak put in on the river. “How would we go about running this Uppercut?”, Kyle inquired. Mitch snickered. We would have to put in at the boat ramp and immediately move to river right. The safe line (the normal line almost every boat takes) is river left. The river left line was important because this is where customers have their journey down the Pigeon River made immortal. This first rapid was the picture rapid; a lone photographer perched above the river on the right shore, waiting to snap the shot that would be hanging on the family's wall next week. On most days, the rock that would become Uppercut sits calmly in the background in many of these photos. Not this day. This day, Uppercut has taken the spot. I don't think Mitch thought Kyle would, or could, get over fast enough after put in to hit Uppercut. I think Mitch was under the impression that Kyle's inquiry wasn't going to amount to much. Mitch was wrong. Mitch warned that if he was going to hit it, he needed to hit it hard, and fast. Mitch laughed it off, I laughed it off. The second trip of the day was a much smaller group of customers. Kyle asked if I would like to join him on a guide boat (a boat with only guides in it, no customers) because neither of us had anything better to do. I obliged. He was excited, and I trusted him. Everyone trusted him. Kyle was crazy enough to have good time, but sensible and strong enough to hold it all together when things started to fall apart. A few of the other guides joined us: Meaghan, Alex, and Andrea (if I remember correctly). We helped load the boats, sat quietly as the other guides prepared their customers, and climbed aboard the bus eager to take a trip down the river without having to worry about taking care of customers. Guide boats didn't pay well but, if you were sharing it with someone you liked, it was fun. And it was big water. The entire bus ride we sat quietly, listening to Mitch give his safety speech to the customers, sprinkling in the same jokes as every trip. I still laughed. Good jokes are good jokes, no matter how many times you hear them. Kyle, always somber, was deep in thought. We arrived at the ramp. It was a mess of buses, braindead tourists drunk on irresponsibility, guides shouted directions, and the ever-present row of boats waiting their turn to push off. When you are a guide, you have this time filled with necessity. When everyone on your boat 'knows' what they are doing, you don't really have much to do but wait. I had already forgotten about Uppercut. I was excited to be in a boat with Kyle guiding. He was a great guide, enthusiastic and comforting at the same time. Kyle had not forgotten about Uppercut. He stood patiently, waiting for Mitch to finish speaking to his boat about paddle commands and safety, before approaching. Kyle pointed with his whole hand, 'Is that Uppercut over there?' Mitch glanced over his shoulder, smirked “Yeah” and chuckled. “How should I approach it?”, Kyle responded. “You have a get to the other side quick, and then just go for it straight on. Otherwise, it will just pull you back this way.” Kyle nodded in understanding. I had heard most of this conversation. I guess we were going to run Uppercut. As we edged closer to the water, Kyle gave us a play-by-play of Mitch's advice. He told us how HE wanted to run it, and how awesome it was going to be. I believed all of this, why not? We got in the water, pointed the boat at a 45 degree angle up stream, and paddled hard across the river. It was easy enough. Kyle's energy was at a 10, and he wasn't going to let anyone in the boat tell him otherwise. We moved quickly down river, Kyle shouting instructions, and the whole group paddling in unison. Right before hitting Uppercut, Kyle shouted 'Crush it!' or 'Do it!' 'or 'Hit it!' or whatever verbal expression of pure joy he often shared right before a big hit. Then we did, we hit it. The boat dropped into the hole, going faster than I think any of us were prepared for...because we immediately stopped. Kyle shouting for us to continue while, for a split second, all of us were in shock at the abrupt stop. The boat rocked back, as we struggled to get out of the hole. It started to catch water in the back where Kyle was sitting, lurched back one last time before the boat pivoted 90 degrees quickly and began catching water on the entire right side of the boat. The right side dipped down. As I reached for Meghan to pull her back towards the center of the boat, the boat violently shifted back towards the left side. Meghan was thrown up and into my face. Just like that, it was over. The rush of water, then someone slamming against me, then my legs above me. I spun around a full turn before hitting a rock and being pushed out. I came to the surface with no one around. I abandoned everything I had learned about what not to do and tried to stand. It was no use. As I made my way further down river, rocks hitting me all along the way, I was able to make it to shore. I couldn't see any of my boat mates and had to assume they were all safe, further downstream. Upstream however, our boat remained where it had been before we were dump trucked. Upside down, the boat bucked and turned like a riding bull at a country bar with no one on it. After a few moments, I decided I was close enough to walk back up river along the shore to retrieve the boat. I was wrong and any attempt by me outside of a boat to retrieve ours would have amounted to getting 'Uppercutted' a second time. From where I was standing, every guide and customer waiting to get on the water could see our boat, and I, standing helpless 10 feet away from it. Over the course of 15 minutes, multitudes of guides on other boats attempted to snag our boat with their paddles, or bump it with their boat, I still had no sign of anyone that had been in the boat and was beginning to be concerned about whether or not I would have a job when I got off the river. Eventually, the boat was dislodged and I reentered the river with the hope that I'd catch up to it before too much damage was done to me. Shortly down river, the boat was caught by Kyle and Alex, and I was able to make it back to them safely. We traveled a more conservative route the rest of the way down the river and we were met with only slight agitation later on. Numerous family's pictures were ruined that day. Many involved boatfulls of people looking over their shoulders at the upturned "Big Bear" boat in the background. Some with guides, spread out, reaching handle-ended with their paddles towards said boat. Maybe, even 1 or 2 families went home with photos of us leaving our boat, as a sacrifice to Uppercut. It could have been one the worst experiences in my life, but it ended with a great story. I know that the only reason I agreed to do it was because Kyle wanted to. He was a great leader and, had he told me he believed he could do it, I would have rode along with him a second time.

Steve Arnold

I have a few wonderful memories of Kyle when we were little. One of my favorite was during a spring break visit. Kyle & I hid Easter eggs inside the house (I don't remember whose house). The funniest part of this memory was Aunt Betty started helping us hide Easter Eggs because Kyle wanted to hide them over & over again. Aunt Betty stuck an Easter Egg on top of her head in her hair and it took us awhile to find it, but when we did, we all could not stop laughing. I enjoyed seeing Kyle when we would visit Betty & Sherry and I always loved toting Kyle around on my hip. He was such a fun and happy child, always smiling & laughing. I didn't get to see Kyle much as he got older & grew up, but I did keep in touch and know that he grew up into a Handsome, Smart and Caring man. He is in the arms of God now and may his soul rest in Peace. 

We will miss you Kyle,
Jennifer Gazaway

I didn't get to know Kyle as well as I wish I had. So, I don't have a lot of memories of him. I remember seeing him many years ago when we'd go visit Sherry and Gerald or even Aunt Betty. But one memory more recently has stuck out. My mom had taken a trip to Kentucky with Sherry, Aunt Betty, and Kyle. They were on their way home when they decided to stop by my neck of the woods and meet me for dinner. We decided to meet at a very wonderful Italian restaurant that was just about to close for the night. Despite that, they welcomed us in with open arms. I'm so glad they did because without them, I might not have this memory. I hadn't seen him in so long. I don't think I'd seen him as a young man before that night. I remember we were at dinner and everyone was talking and catching up. He was telling us all about his life, accomplishments, and future plans. And then he asked about me. He showed genuine interest in my career and personal life. He was so well spoken and well mannered. You could tell he'd been raised right. We continued on in fellowship and finished our dinner. We said our goodbyes. And I remember that night how great it was just to be in his presence. Kyle was a wonderful young man. I know that his family will miss him but his legacy will live on. This world could use a lot more Kyle's.

Kenneth Strong

I have many fond and Precious Memories of Kyle from his childhood to the present. He has always had the sweetest smile and the Kindest Heart even as a child. His love for learning impressed me so much because he always wanted to know new things. He had a kind heart and a beautiful smile. I especially enjoyed our trip to Kentucky about three years ago. I got to spend a whole week with Kyle and his mother, my cousin, and my Aunt Betty and Miss Penny. Kyle was so interested in our childhood stories and memories. He enjoyed talking to our family in Kentucky about the tobacco fields and the way of life there. I always enjoyed his company and especially when he came to my house to visit because he always loved my cooking. And I will always hold him close to my heart and think of him and all of his accomplishments and his love for others. 

Your cousin,
Linda Garren Black

I remember the first time I ever met Kyle. It was shortly after Linda and I married in 2002. It was easy to see that Kyle was very friendly and outgoing. When Kyle was older I remember one time he was at our house during one of his Aunt Betty's trips to Atlanta to the hospital, we sat and talked at my kitchen table for a long time. I learned of his dreams and aspirations and things he hoped to accomplish and things he wanted to do. We would talk about traveling or sports or just about anything. He was very interesting and easy to have a conversation with. They spent the night with us that night and the next morning Linda made us breakfast. Kyle really enjoyed that. And I really enjoyed knowing Kyle. He was an amazing young man. I feel blessed to have known him.

Mike Black

Kyle, you will be missed but never forgotten. Your kindness towards me remains in my heart. I enjoyed every minute of time we chatted, when you shared your music talent but most of all the kindness you showed me as a person, not just a housekeeper.  I am proud to hear of all your accomplishments and even more thankful knowing I have you looking over me forever. RIP..

Beth Messick

It's difficult to think of Kyle and not think of David. I sometimes swim and surf with David, but Kyle always seemed to be there too, even though in fact he wasn't. I was fortunate to be their teacher on an educational tour of Italy. Yesterday, I went back and looked at photos from that trip - not one was of Kyle without David at his side. The two brothers (best friends) walked in the footsteps of the Caesars in Rome, down the avenues of Florence, home to the greatest burst of creative energy in western civilization, and together they floated over the canals of Venice. On that trip they saw the Coliseum and St. Peter's Cathedral, the Duomo and San Marco. They strolled along the banks of the Tiber River, The Arno, and along the shores of the Adriatic Sea. They cooled their feet in Lake Garda at Sirmione, and they stood together on a mountain peak in the clear, crisp air of the Italian Alps. They saw art and visited places most people will only visit in the pages of books. That is how I will always remember Kyle Lowrey. I’m including a poem by Rome’s greatest lyrical poet, Catullus. He wrote it about visiting the site of his brother’s grave. Catullus was from the Italian city, Sirmione, which Kyle and David visited. The remains of his family’s villa are still there on the shores of Lake Garda.

Ave Atque Vale

“Through many cities and over many seas I have traveled
I bring you, my brother, these sad funeral rites
These offerings are now unraveled
The words are spoken my days are nights
The Fates have taken you away from me
Taken you, my brother, so unfairly
Here are the offerings of which our ancients tell
Take them they drip with your brother's tears
and forever take brother my hail and my farewell" 

I will always remember Kyle as a very sensitive human being who possessed a strong intellect and beautiful curiosity about this world he too briefly shared with us. 

Pax tecum, Kyle.

Charlie Schuler

Kyle was always reserved around the boat house, but I have distinct memories of him sharing stories from his time working on the Pigeon and in Colorado. His desire to get back to the mountains and get better at skiing really stuck with me. His quiet determination and enthusiasm for new people and places were inspiring to me; he was a person who didn't shy away from a challenge. I'm happy to have had the opportunity to have known him, even for a brief time. 

Hallie Holland

I met Kyle on the Italy trip that PSC hosted. Kyle and I often had deep conversations, and I would argue that Kyle was a major influence on my life though we had a brief bout of communication. We talked about questions pertaining to life and philosophy concepts. After the Italy trip, we kept communication via e-mail, and I would always tease him about not having a phone. Kyle and I would discuss things regarding human nature, and I was honored to have been able to have conversations with Kyle. I know that without Kyle checking in on me during the time I most needed a friend, that time would have been unbearable. There are no words that could express the gratitude that I have for his kind words and the idea that I had a real friend. Thank you, Kyle. Without you, philosophy would have just been a thought. 

Love and Light,
Janelle Gormley

Kyle was the consummate teacher. He was great at teaching newer guides and was particularly great with kids. He never missed the opportunity to teach them about history, river rafting, and anything they were interested in. Listening to him teach a young guest how to steer the boat was a common occurrence on the river. He was so at home on the river and could make even the most difficult group of guests into a team that could easily make it down the river. I could always rely on him to be the lead or sweep boat without worrying at all if he would make every move. He was also very insightful and though we didn't have them often, I greatly enjoyed the philosophical conversations we had. My name is Patrick Abel and I worked with Kyle at the River Company last summer.

Patrick Abel

I met Kyle in Salmon, Idaho at a Swift water rescue class. We spent three days swimming in class III whitewater, learning knots, how to perform river rescue and being partners for the exercises. Kyle was a bit shy at first, but soon opened up and expressed his love for the out of doors, and his passion for whitewater. He shared the river experience he had coming from the east and I shared my experiences from the Northwest. I was looking forward to showing him some of my favorite rivers and places in the west. He will be missed and I will always have a fond memory of our time together. 

John Thompson

 I did not know Kyle personally but have had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Lowrey for many years. Dr. Lowrey absolutely adored his children. His eyes would light up anytime he spoke of his family. He spoke of Kyle with such adoration and pride. I know Dr. Lowrey is a man who lives the values he taught Kyle. We lost a gentle soul but he will never be forgotten.

Teresa Sweatt

I don’t know what to say. I am stunned and speechless. Kyle was such a good person, and certainly the type of individual we need more of in today’s world. The last time he and I spoke was when he was a sophomore at Arkansas, and we had a wonderful discussion about history and politics. We agreed on a lot of issues, which made me happy because of that caring attitude he had for people. He was always so thoughtful. Yes, Kyle understood the meaning of Memorial Day, as did families back when I was a kid. It was always a time for all of us to get together and go the cemeteries to honor those who had passed. Kyle was a great guy with an old-soul. I am so, so sorry for you, David, and Gerald. I wish I had the words to tell you how much he will be missed, but I know you know that already. Unfortunately, many people will miss out on getting to meet Kyle, the epitome of a wonderful, caring young man. Glenda and I are keeping all of you in our thoughts and prayers, and Kyle will ALWAYS remain in our memory.

Love,

Bruce (Kyle’s 5th grade teacher at RC Lipscomb) & Glenda Wolfe 

Kyle, your smile so bright and sincere, your eyes glistened with intrigue as you made us feel as though we were the only ones in the room when we spoke to you. Your shy demeanor pulled us in, your curiosity for knowledge tells a story of your Broad mindedness and that there was nothing that you couldn't do once you set your sights on it. But, yet still you are a gentle giant, respectful, loving, kind and ever a smile on your face. 

We love you, sweet one and forever in our hearts,
Jerry and Karen Quinn

Words cannot describe what an Amazing and Awesome young man Mr. Kyle Alden Lowrey was. The Greene family got the opportunity to have him be our guide at Big Bear in June of 2015. That trip was awesome in so many ways that by the end of it, my family and I had connected with Kyle in a way that we felt as if we knew one another our whole life. Little did we know that two months later, we would lose our nineteen-year-old son Caleb. I remember the day I sent an email and spoke with Kyle to let him know of Caleb's passing. That is where your son blew me away in his ability to connect and remember people. That ability made him stand out and remember my family to the point of knowing what we had talked about on the trip, even Caleb's red hair.

His history and knowledge of the area was amazing too. If he hadn't told us that he was not originally from there, we would never have known it. Kyle and our oldest son, Christian, shared a lot in common, especially with just the love of learning. Kyle also connected with my younger three – Jacob, Caleb, and Autumn with his love for adventures in the outdoor world and the world in general. That spark of life fire and knowledge was huge and it showed. Kyle also mentioned on our trip his brother’s graduation and how he'll be attending it in the next coming month. In that conversation, he shared the love of family and his love for adventures. He spoke about his work with aquaponics. He explained what it was and how it worked to my kids and his hope of going back to build a goal of 6 of them before he had to leave. We have been back to Big Bear I believe three times since then.  One of the guides this summer remembered us and said, “Hey, you are the Greene family Kyle has spoken about years ago.” He told us Kyle was out west guiding and he hadn't been able to keep in touch much, but they still chat once in a while. I guess that was where The River Company in ID comes in. I can truly say this about your young man, he was a Blessing to whomever he touched, whether it be through whitewater guiding or his Peacework. I have thought about Kyle a lot through the days since June 2015, just that love of adventure he shared with my ki I can't describe. The Greenes truly know the pain, the emptiness that you are feeling and we are very sorry. May God be with your family and you during this time. We'll have your family in our thoughts and prayers. Caleb Lived and loved like it mattered every day and since I got to know Kyle, I believe he did too. So please keep that in mind as y'all move forward to Live, Love like it matters every day. 

Deepest sympathies,
Greene Family

P.S. Here is a picture that hangs in our living room of our trip with Kyle. Hope you can see him clearly. When you get to Big Bear, they put you in a big group and the guides come out, line up, and they call their names out. Then they call out the last name of your party and say your guide is so and so. Then your guide yells out, “party X, meet me here.” Then you go and meet. Now we are standing there looking at the guides and my kids say I hope we get a cool one. Then Jacob says, “Hey, we need to get the long haired bearded guy because I've got long hair and he looks cool.” Well fate happened and that connection was made. Kyle yells out, “Greene party, meet here” and as soon as we walked up he says, “Now this looks to be a fun group.” See, we live way in the country and when people meet us and see Jacob they think he is a California surf beach kid. Needless to say, they hit it off and that turned out to be our best whitewater trip today. Kyle’s personality and passion for what he was doing showed the whole time. The world has lost a great person and guide, but God got one of the best guides now. Sorry for your loss, especially at a young age.

I feel honored that I got to meet Kyle and will forever remember how kind and gentle he was with my son, Tanner.

Crystal McCall

       I was trying to think of a particular instance that stood out in my mind. Two words kept coming back to me – “No Fear.”
       Of course, no one knows the inner thoughts of any of us unless they are spoken. However, I would say no fear is appropriate. 
       When the kids were little, if an activity or a trip was undertaken, we could count on Kyle to be enthusiastic and lead the way. We felt confident in his ability.
       If there were subjects or thoughts that were to be pondered or explored, his sharp mind was up to the task of digging deeper where others skimmed the surface. No subject was too abstract. 
       His love of the outdoors and choice of communing with nature employment showed a fearless spirit to investigate what he loved most. Others talk, but he did.
       Not many of us are willing or fearless enough to do the hard, true-to-yourself work to find your own truth and happiness. Most people’s lives would be richer and happier if they followed Kyle’s “No Fear” approach to living.

Patty Foster

The first time I remember meeting Sherry and Kyle was at Mommy and Me. Kyle was always happy – probably because his mom was right there with him. When I joined the Mother’s Center, I was happy to see some familiar faces. I immediately felt a kinship with these moms knowing that they were trying to give their children opportunities for socialization, observation and exposure to new people and experiences. I did not anticipate the lifelong, warm friendships that would develop, not just with the moms but with the entire families. I count that as one of the dearest blessing in life – that I stumbled into this group at that time, and we all had enough in common for the friendships to survive and flourish.

Kyle was a cutie. He was always zipping around exploring everything with a smile on his face. Even during his toddler years when most children are a handful, I never saw Kyle be aggressive towards another child. Likewise, I never saw him have trouble with sharing, or have a tantrum. Looking back on this time now, I realize how rare and wonderful that is. 

Ironically, I always think of your family on Memorial Day because that is the first time I met Gerald. You invited us out on your boat on Memorial Day, 1993. I have thought of that awesome day fondly many, many times since then. Little did I know that Memorial Day would become a day of such heartache. 

As our families grew and the children started school, we saw less of the kids. It was always a treat to get together and see them as they grew up (which happened so very quickly). Kyle was always a joy to observe. He was a gentleman from a very young age – always polite, sweet and respectful. When our families kept getting busier and busier we saw less of each other. I had to rely on little anecdotes that Sherry would share regarding her children. It was clear from every story that Kyle was a deep thinking and sensitive soul. His perceptions of people and life were beyond his years. I also enjoyed hearing about his outdoor adventures. I was so impressed with his independence and courage. The jobs he took, and the move to the job locations, required a bravery and sense of adventure that most people don’t have. I am so glad that Kyle had these awesome accomplishments during his too short but blessed life. I am also thankful that he had such a wonderful family with uncountable loving memories and experiences. These memories hopefully can eventually help all of you with your grief as well.

I could go on for many more pages, but the words I am getting down are not accurately portraying the feelings and memories I have for Kyle and your entire family – including your extended family members that we have had the privilege of meeting and getting to know. Even though we didn’t see him much in the recent years, knowing that Kyle is gone has left a hole in our hears which is deepened when I think of the unimaginable pain you are going through and knowing there isn’t a way we can make it easier for you. Just know that we love you and will be thinking of you and praying for you forever.

Corlette Mueller 

My brother, Luke, and I remember the happy times with the mom’s group and your family. We remember the kindness and gentleness that not just Kyle, but your entire family, always showed to everyone. We also remember so many fun get-togethers and birthday parties. I remember that Kyle and David came to my high school birthday party and even Luke’s 10thbirthday party long after the group had quit getting together regularly and the kids in the group had made their own school friends independent of the mom’s group. I appreciated that they came even when they didn’t know many of the kids. I also had hoped to find time to travel up and go on one of Kyle’s whitewater rafting trips. 

Gabriel Mueller

I’m so sorry that you lost your son Kyle.  

I remember Kyle very well. He was a fascinating guy with lots of interests and had already done a lot when I knew him, like being a boat captain. Mature beyond his years but also with an insatiable curiosity and wonder. He asked so many insightful questions about the environment and culture and engineering. I really enjoyed talking with him. He was fascinating to listen to and was also a good listener and, like I said, always asking questions and wanting to learn. 

He was well liked by the other students. I forwarded the sad news about him to another student on that trip [to Belize in 2011] to see if he remembers the nickname the other students gave him. I don’t remember the nickname but it was in fondness. I think it related to Kyle being an “old soul” (my term, not theirs)

I’m sorry I didn’t get this to you by Wednesday. I was in the jungle in Nicaragua with no connection to the outside world. Kyle would have loved it.

Again, I’m so sorry. I’m a father and we had a scary close call with one of our adult children, but I won’t pretend to know what you’re going through.

Thank you for the kind words and for letting me know. I honestly don’t remember every student, but I sure do remember Kyle. He was unforgettable.

Sincerely,

Thomas Soerens
Associate Professor of Engineering
Messiah College (Currently)
University of Arkansas (Formerly) 

Kyle was very kind and soft spoken but amazingly brilliant at the same time. On the trip [to Belize in 2011] and from that point forward, he became the walking talking fact checker. If someone wanted to have a point proven, you would have Kyle chime in and confirm if your facts were indeed correct. I believe we called him “Jeeves” based on AskJeeves.com.

Ben Marts

Dear Sherry,

My sincere apologies for my slow reply to your message – I have been traveling outside of Arkansas and visiting my mother who belongs to the pre-internet era, and as such my access to email has been limited this past week.

I appreciate you having taken the time to contact me, but I am very sorry as to the reason and was saddened to learn of Kyle’s passing yesterday afternoon.   Although four years have passed since he was enrolled in my class on South Asian Religions at the University of Arkansas, I certainly remember Kyle very well as a mature and excellent student – a true role model for other students less accomplished, an exemplary model of the kind that teachers such as myself are always very happy to encounter. 

In this context, I remember being somewhat concerned that he might not finish the class when, late in the semester, he was forced to put my course aside in view of your own circumstances - and especially considering that he had done such excellent work up to that point in time.  True to form, however, and despite the considerable work that he was forced to temporarily postpone, Kyle did indeed return and successfully completed this work in a manner that accrued him the highest grade in the class that semester.  

Viewed in this context, the incident with the erotic poem was immediately clearly an occasion for rapturous fits of humor rather than a manner for concern - and to this date, I can still honestly note that I have yet to experience anything similarly unique, and perhaps it was his singular uniqueness that suggests a fitting way in which to remember your son. [Kyle mistakenly emailed a YouTube link to a poem by Galway Kinnell to Prof. Brubaker. When Kyle apologized for his mistake, Prof. Brubaker sent a good-natured reply.]

My very deepest sympathies and condolences on Kyle’s passing.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert Brubaker
Instructor, History Department
University of Arkansas

Since receiving your email, I have struggled with what to make of Kyle’s passing and what to write to you.

Kyle was in a number of my classes; but, I really met him on the Belize trip.  Kyle was not your average engineering student, he had diverse outside interests and was more mature in his thoughts and his need to delve a bit deeper.  One of my memories from the Belize trip was the other students working to get Kyle to smile in group photos (it might have been a bit of a game for him too).  They finally succeed!  Attached is that photo.

Kyle was a good person, I enjoyed getting to know him.

I am so sorry for your loss – for all of our loss.

Fin
Findlay Edwards  
Associate Professor of Civil Engineering
University of Arkansas