I'm so proud of this picture. This is my Missionary Group picture from New Orleans this past July. The couple in the middle of the picture is Marvin & Juanita Hamilton. They are the couple we worked for all week and the picture is taken outside their home, 300 yards from the levee in New Orleans. This is my group from Main Street Presbyterian Church in Petersburg. This experience was one everyone should attempt. It helped bring me closer to everyone and it was very important for me to help do God's work.

No, this isn't Jerry Garcia, Ringo Starr, or Tommy Chong, it's Vance Hays!! This picture was taken in New Orleans this past July when Vance and I were on a Mission Trip.....and they don't say it doesn't get hot in Louisiana! Though not a particularly striking pose, Vance is my best friend in the world and I love him with all my heart.

Sydney2

Both of these pictures are of my cat, Sydney. She is very devoted to me. She sleeps with me at night and always follows me around the house. She meows for me when I'm not home and lets me have it when I return! I've been blessed with several wonderful pets in my life, but Sid is my all-time favorite. Susan and I have two dogs; Abby and Cody (Dakota); however, Sydney runs the house! I always tell people/students that she is the most beautiful cat in the world, don't you agree?

Sydney

Ryan

This is my son Ryan. He has become a great man; good husband and provider. His birthday is July 30. He and his wife Brooke live in Newburgh. Ryan works at Belmont Freight in Evansville. He loves UK Football/Basketball and often goes to games with me. He has become a big NASCAR fan as well. We go to the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis every year, a tradition that we established when Kyle was alive. They got me hooked on it!! Ryan took after his mom, he's simply a good person and makes friends easily. I'm so proud of him!!! He's my best friend.

Charlene Fox

With my wife Susan, this is Charlene Fox. She was Kyle's girlfriend at the time of his death. As you can see, she is beautiful and is greatly loved by my wife and me. Charlene graduated from Tecumseh High School last May and now attends USI. She lives in Evansville at school, but spends most weekends with her mom, brother, sister, and her niece in Lynnville. You may have seen her at a few functions at Pike Central or when she was a cheerleader at THS. She also worked at Main Street Video in Lynnville. If I had a daughter, this is who I'd choose. She remains a huge part of our lives.

Kyle's Gravestone

This is my son Kyle's final resting place. His funeral was held on November 7, 2007 and was the greatest funeral I have ever witnessed. Dr. Douglas Low and LeAnne Kelley both spoke eloquently about Kyle and what he meant to everyone. The Pike Central Swing Choir w/Vance Hays agreed to sing two of Kyle's favorite songs when he was in the choir, "Full Control" and "Friends". A recording of "Blessed Be the Broken Road" was played during the ceremony because Kyle had sung the song at "Senior Solos". To cap off the funeral, St. Mary's Life-Flight helicopter flew overhead at the conclusion of the graveside service; it was spectacular!! This stone is beautiful and I hope viewers of this might someday go to Augusta Cemetary to see it.

Tribute to Kyle

My entire blog is dedicated to the memory of my son, Kyle Steven Stuckey. Kyle was born on August 27, 1986 at St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville, Indiana and he died on November 4, 2007. Kyle had grown up to be a wonderful man; one quite independent, very loyal to friends and relatives, and extremely competent in his job.

Kyle graduated from Pike Central High School in May, 2005 and embarked on a career in medicine during his senior year at Pike. In the spring semester of his senior year, Kyle enrolled at Ivy Tech in Evansville in the EMT program and actually finished up his training (with the highest grade in the class) in May, 2005-before actually graduating from high school. He started work at St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville in July, 2005. There he worked as a phlebotomist for six months before being hired at Warrick County EMS in January, 2006. He stayed on at Warrick until September of 2007 when he had an opportunity to return to St. Mary's and work as an EMT in the emergency room of the hospital. He loved his job and St. Mary's, working with old friends and meeting a lot of new ones. He truly wanted to be the best; and was.

His sudden death has been quite a blow to the whole family. As a father, one's worst fear is losing a child. I don't deal with his death very well from time to time, but the last year has been very rough on us all. My wonderful wife has suffered greatly, battling depression and the pressures of her job. My son, Ryan, has also fought off horrible feelings of Kyle's passing and now is my only living son. Kyle's grandparents have also suffered terribly during this period of time. I can only wonder what other people are feeling for their loss. A couple of friends of Kyle's have actually had tattoo's made in order to remember him.

Having close friends such as Vance Hays and LeAnne Kelley have both been very supportive. My church means the world to me and the opportunity to serve God, because I know God is taking care of my son. I can only hope that one day we will be reunited with Kyle in Heaven and we'll be together forever.

So, my blog is in support/memory of my son Kyle who resides in Heaven. He is with me everyday and will always be with me. Having the love and support from family and friends somehow makes everything in my life OK.