A Tribute to Kelly S.

What’s in a name? Do we bring honor to our name?

Yesterday I heard the terrible news that another Kelly S had died in an accident on Christmas Eve while vacationing with his family. Kelly Stoker was only 51.

Kelly was a graduate of the University of Utah Medical School and had been practicing medicine for seventeen years as an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist. We had been in his office many times. After months of terrible ear infections, Dr. Stoker operated on my oldest daughter McKenna. She was only 9 months old at the time.

Kelly left behind his eternal sweetheart and 8 children.

Kelly was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It had barely been a year since he was released after serving 6 years as a Bishop.

His obituary said this “He loved to share the Gospel and truly embodied the concept of being a humble follower of Christ. There is no doubt that in his next life, he will join his earthly father in continuing to be a "fisher of men."

Towards the end of the obituary the family shared these final thoughts:

“ Every young girl dreams of marrying a man like Kelly. Kim feels blessed to have had 27 wonderful years on earth with him, and looks forward to their eternal relationship in their life to come. Dad, we love you, and already miss your presence in our lives. We know you continue to watch over us, and the gift we offer to you this Christmas is to live our lives by your example, in the hope that we will live with you again.”

His life was cut short, but in 51 years he did more with the name Kelly than most of us Kelly’s do in a lifetime.

Tragedy strikes good people too. But living life to its fullest is an exercise of quiet faith, not fear and foreboding. Even the least amount of faith that can be mustered can be form of "cautious
optimism" that everything is going to be ok.

And the “close calls” are more significant. Our name wasn’t called. It wasn’t our turn.

What a unique form of meekness: recognizing our own mortality!

Life is a gift, a Christmas bonus. Spend it wisely.

So here is a tribute from one Kelly S to another: You will be sadly missed, but the world has been a better place because Kelly Stoker was here.