'Surreal' doesn't begin to cover it

For those who have asked, I wanted to share the information from Kyser's obituary in case you didn't click through yesterday to read it. He was a beautiful soul, and a few friends have asked if they can honor him by contributing to his memorial fund at his high school alma mater ... and yes, our family would be greatly humbled by that. From the Birmingham News:

MIREE, CHRISTOPHER KYSER (KYSER) Christopher Kyser Miree (Kyser), was born December 2, 1986 and died April 17, 2010. Kyser was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, attended Advent Day School, graduated from The Altamont School, and graduated Magna cum Laude with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. At The Altamont School, Kyser played varsity baseball and ran varsity cross country, served as Senior Class President, and was active in many student organizations. At Vanderbilt, Kyser served as President of Pi Tau Sigma (Mechanical Engineering Honor Society), Vice President of Vanderbilt Aerospace Club, and as President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Following graduation, he moved to Mobile, Alabama and took a job with Chevron Corporation. He was a member of Independent Presbyterian Church. Kyser was an avid hunter of turkey, duck, pheasant, dove, and quail and loved to hike, ski, fish and take on all outdoor challenges. He was a leader, he was a great friend and brought great joy into the lives of his family and everyone he met. Kyser shared a special relationship with his brother stemming originally from the precociousness of six year olds drawing momentous conclusions from small events, and growing to the shared dreams of two gifted, ambitious young men planning their own families and careers. You could see in Kyser elements of his mother and his father, as if he took only the best from each. Then, as he spread his wings to fly, he would not simply follow but would go farther and higher than either. Kyser was preceded in death by his grandparents, Royal Richardson Miree, Sarah Kyser Miree, and Joy Purifoy Waller. Survivors include his parents, Benjamin Kyser and Kathryn Waller Miree; his brother, Harrison Moore Miree; his grandfather, Bogue Maultsby Waller; aunts and uncles, Royal Richardson Miree, Jr., Sarah Belle Miree Tollison (Fred), Virginia Waller Clark, Louise Waller Blanchard (Bill), Bogue Maultsby Waller, Jr. (Cyndy); and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. The memorial service will be held Tuesday, April 20 at 3 p.m. at Independent Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends afterwards in the Independent Presbyterian Church parlor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The Kyser Miree Leadership Fund at The Altamont School or your favorite charity.

Today we will be celebrating Kyser's life and mourning our loss. I am sad not only for those of us who knew and loved him, but also for those who would have come to know and love him in the future if given the chance. I have no doubt that he would have influenced untold numbers of people if he'd been given the many years here he deserved.

The Mobile police finally acknowledged yesterday that they're beginning an investigation into his death. I can definitely file the discovery of the article online in the "Breaking News > Crime" section of the Mobile Press-Register as one of the saddest moments of my life. Once again, something I never thought I'd see in reference to someone I loved. 

I greatly appreciate the continued thoughts and prayers for our family today, and please pray that the police will be given discernment and wisdom and will treat Ben, Kathryn and Harry with respect during the investigation -- which hopefully will culminate in the arrest and conviction of the guilty party.