Travis Walker Gerron

Click his name above to view his obituary.

T.W. to me embodied being a man. He lived with a work ethic and integrity that was above reproach and stood as a testament to who he was deep down inside in spite of his trials and dejection. He faced more stumbling blocks and tests in his brief life than most face in a life three times as long. T.W. faced these situations and survived them because of the strength of his character and because God knew he could. God’s faith in T.W. was much greater than T.W.’s faith in himself or his faith in God.

T.W. was an isolated man with a deep soul and perspective within. Only a few may even have known or understood the depth of someone as personal and solitary as T.W.

I first met T.W. when we were in first grade at Lubbock-Cooper Elementary. He was new to our school and happened to get put in my class with Ms. Salinas. I was in need of a friend because my best friends at the time Raymond and Dustin were in other first grade classrooms and I was lonely. We shared birthdays in June, loved baseball, and enjoyed playing outside. I thought he was cool because he had red hair and more freckles than I did. I also found out the first time he spent the night with me that he had a great laugh and was surprisingly more ticklish than I was (thanks Mom). Our friendship was strong and growing for many years. My young life with T.W. included playing with and against him in sports, taking family vacations, spending the night over at each others houses and so on. We had a lot in common when we were young and he will always remain a vivid part of my childhood memories. I will always remember how well his home smelled and how clean Sandy and the family kept things. And, who could forget the moon wall in his bedroom and the fact that his sister Allison (who all his friends thought was way hot) shared a bathroom with him.

I recall one night that Dustin and I both spent the night at T.W.’s house and we decided to read the bible together and pray for each other. It was sometime in Jr. High because I remember discussing our fears of High School coming, getting picked on by the older guys in athletics, and realizing we really liked girls and did not fully understand these feelings. We were all involved in FCA together and felt it would be beneficial to have the Lord help us deal with our current issues. Unfortunately for me that is the last deep and meaningful conversation I recall with T.W. We remained really good friends into High School but began developing some differing interests. The pressures of High School were overwhelming to me in the beginning and I knew they were to T.W. as well. After his parents divorced T.W. was just distant enough emotionally that I did not feel comfortable reaching out like I wish I could have. I could tell through our continued friendship throughout High School that he had really changed and dealt with it hard but also knew how private he was and seemed to want to keep it that way. After High School we completely went separate ways and never had the chance to speak or see each other again until Carrie Beard’s wedding. I noticed T.W. standing in the back all alone fresh into the Marines. Those of us that still saw each other and missed T.W.’s friendship immediately went up to him to say hello. To me the opportunity was one of the best parts of this wedding. It was apparent from his brief conversations and lack of emotion he was very different from even a couple of years ago when we graduated. Never the less, I will always remember what a great leader he was and how his convictions and strength were expressed through gentle yet firm and resolute actions. Like the time he quit the football team the day of pictures after grueling two-a-days because the coaches told him to cut his hair and he wouldn’t. I have an everlasting memory of us standing on those risers waiting to have our team picture taken and seeing part of our team’s soul ride off into the sunset on his Harley. Yes, he was the cool guy with a Harley in High School. I was mad at him that day and told him so but was also impressed with his willingness to stand up for his rights and choices and act decisively. We needed him on the team as nobody covered the corner as well as he could but that was the way he rolled.

I will never understand the depth of his inward life or the feelings that he never shared. I have prayed for him off and on since that night at his house in Jr. High. I continue to thank God that he ever gave me a friend like T.W. at any spot in my life. In spite of T.W.’s tough exterior he was a gentle and sensitive person that faced more life struggles than I can even imagine. Though grace, faith and control might not always describe his responses to his struggles who among us can claim that any of us have reacted any better. God knew T.W. was strong enough to handle more pain and suffering than most can imagine. Perhaps he responded in a way he knew would allow him to survive and God was there every step of the way. Only T.W. knows at this point as he rests in the grace and unending mercy of his Heavenly Father. I believe that T.W. possessed great faith and connection to God because of who he was and because God is faithful. Though on the outside some may question bad behavior or poor choices; I will always remember that night I saw a young and faithful T.W. lead his friends in prayer and generate a connection to God that is never severed.

Though my fond memories remain my heart tonight is broken. There are many other stories and feeling to share but I feel like I have said enough to finally go to sleep. On Thursday August 28^th we will lay his body to rest but his life will continue in his boys, the wife and family he leaves behind and those of us few fortunate souls that will carry a piece of his legacy in our minds from now to the day we join him on the other side.

His motorcycle ride is not over it is only continuing in a better place.