OCTOBER 2016

IN MEMORIAM

Very few times in one’s life do you come across a person that is so very  unique that he leaves an indelible imprint on your life. Klay Shorthouse was such a man. Let me introduce you to Klay K. Shorthouse  (1961-2016). Please note It is the dash between those two numbers that is important. How Klay filled that time in the dash makes for a beautiful story.

Klay came to Atlanta after graduating from Ball State University.  He went to work for Turner Broadcasting and CNN. He was new to Atlanta and had found a church, the newly founded Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. He met with the pastor to confide that he had no friends in the area and needed a place to live. The pastor put him in touch with Mark Springfield who was on staff with Young Life of Marietta/Cobb County. Mark invited him to become his roommate at what was known as the Young Life House where several single young men, affiliated with Young Life, lived. That led Klay to become involved as a volunteer. His ministry spanned some thirty years.  During those years, Klay’s life and ministry impacted the lives of hundreds, maybe thousands of people.

Klay worked  in the television industry as a producer and videographer for many outdoor shows, including The Orlando Wilson show as well as Roland Martin, O’Neill Williams shows and “The Best and Worst of Tred Barta Show”. Klay would share with us the many adventures that he experienced while filming these shows

To say that Klay was a unique individual would be a gross understatement.  He had a most unusual sense of humor. Klay relished sharing jokes so unfunny that they became funny! (Example: A horse walked into the bar, the bartender asked, ”Why the long face?”.

Klay’s passion was fishing and teaching others how to fish. My grandchildren were grateful recipients of this teaching. Also, because he was a swimmer in college, he helped my grandchildren  learn the finer points of competitive swimming, spending hours poolside with them.  He had a servant’s heart.

Klay loved kids, though he never had his own. He invested himself in the lives of high school kids, spending enormous amounts of time with them, always with the desire for them to come to know the Jesus, whom he loved and served.  He loved kids, all kids, not just the popular ones.  He walked alongside the unlovely and unlovable also.  Here is one quote from one of Klay’s high school friends that typifies Klay’s ministry.

 “Many moons ago I walked into my first Young Life club and met Klay Shorthouse and he was different than anyone I had ever met and was a part of introducing me to this guy named Jesus that I didn't know existed. He showed up weekly and continued to check on me even as I left high school. He was a good friend. He passed away last night- and the world is missing a world class knucklehead who continued to point people to the Jesus who cared about people and the best places to fish. He made a significant impact in my life and will never be forgotten. I know Harrison High School was different because of Klay Shorthouse.”

Four years ago, after he had moved back to his hometown of Elkhart, Klay experienced a severe shortness of breath one day. He was rushed to the hospital where they discovered he only had five percent heart function! He was not expected to live. He spent the next six months in the hospital undergoing several surgeries that resulted in having a device that assisted his heart in functioning. Soon thereafter, Klay was back on the lakes fishing and enjoying some sense of normalcy.   A week or so ago, the doctors found that the heart device was failing and they immediately moved him up to the top of the transplant list. Friday  a week ago, we received an email from Klay saying that he was on the way to the hospital. They had a new heart for him! All his friends were so excited for him. We anticipated seeing him do all of the things he used to enjoy before having the heart machine.  Then, as the surgeons began the surgery, they found so much scar tissue that his heart basically just fell apart and he passed away before they could put the new heart into his body. We were all devastated. However, we came to realize that now, Klay had a new heart and a new body and he was face-to-face with the Jesus that he loved and served.  I picture Jesus standing, welcoming Klay and saying ”Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into your rest. ” Let’s go fishing. I know some  great spots on this lake.”

His favorite quote was:

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention

of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved

body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly  proclaiming:

WOW-- What a Ride!"

His Life Bible Verse was John 10:10.

“I have come that you might have life and have it to the full

Klay Shorthouse lived this to the very end.