On January 31, 1996, at 4:08 a.m., a beautiful soul took his first breath and the happiest two people on the planet named him Riley Hawthorne LaRue.
How does one sum up the life of her son? It’s too much to ask. I keep waiting for the words, and they seem so inadequate. So trivial.
He was so many exquisite things that cannot be captured with mere symbols on paper. He was kind – he possessed a kindness that helps friends in the wee hours of the morning and keeps their secrets. He was deeply compassionate. He wanted everyone to love. Just love. He tried so hard to teach me that. “It’s what Jesus did, mom. Remember?”
Riley had a passion for music and sound waves and the science of vibration. He had just finished a book about sound and healing that he wanted me to read. He had a brilliant mind that allowed him to understand the world on a deeper level than most. He hated injustice and prejudice and suffering. He wanted to make music that could help us deal with the pain of this world. He had huge dreams.
God decided Riley was done on this earth last Saturday morning. He took his last breath here and opened his eyes to the indescribable glory of Heaven. It all makes sense to him now. The sound, the beauty, the suffering.
His dad and I are so grateful for the nineteen years we had with him. His brothers, Cooper and Maverick, will miss him every day for the rest of their lives. He was an outstanding big brother to them. Clara, his sister, will do something grand in his memory, I’m sure. He would love that.
He was loved by his girlfriend, Stella Byrd, whom he adored and planned to savor forever.
Riley will be sorely missed by grandparents, Bob and Linda LaRue and Ronnie and Debbie Watson. Left behind are family members who loved him so well in life and mourn him so sweetly in death: Chan and Angela LaRue, Britni LaRue, Allie and John Vargo, Katie and Rachelle LaRue, Neely LaRue, Allen and Sherrie Watson, Josh Watson and Kailey Cable, Kayla Watson and Jacob Dunning, Ozzy and Kristi Doganavsargil, Bella and Eda Doganavsargil. He has great aunts, uncles, and extended family who loved and supported him unconditionally.
We are so appreciative of the love shown to our family during this time. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate time or money to the Special Olympics of Forsyth County or to the East Forsyth Booster Club. Riley was blessed to be a part of both organizations.
We will celebrate Riley’s life at East Forsyth High School on Wednesday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Friends and family may sign, and view the guestbook at www.Pierce-JeffersonFuneralService.com
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Job 1:21 ESV
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