Spring Break
Friends, family mourn the passing of fraternity brother
Bryan Shettig
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: LIFE
A crowd of about 100 people covered the flames of their candles from being blown out by the breeze at a vigil Thursday night in front of the Phi Kappa Sigma house. The fraternity's flag flew at half-mast behind the gathering and has been since the passing of Karl Edward Guy Jr., Fort Worth sophomore and member of Phi Kappa Sigma, on Oct. 13. Guy was 19 years old.
"I want you to feel the breeze," said Village Church pastor Lan Leavell. "We find the breath of God breathing on us tonight."
Leavell's speech introduced about an hour and a half of speeches and songs presented by members of Phi Kappa Sigma and Guy's family.
Britny Weatherd, Guy's girlfriend, said Guy would not have wanted the crowd to grieve for long, but to be happy.
"I know that in Heaven, I'll be looking for Karl," Weatherd said. Yolanda Duty, Guy's mother, sat with Guy's family that came from Fort Worth to the candlelight vigil. She was consoled one-by-one by almost all the members of the fraternity and Guy's friends.
"It takes a special person like Karl to uplift you from the lowest part of your life when you don't think you can get up," said Ryan Mangabang, Carrollton senior. "I feel like he's smiling down on all of us," he said.
Songs by the fraternity members gave way to a slideshow that was projected on a sheet over the doorway of the house. Photos of Guy played on the billowing screen and each one seemed to make the gathering laugh and cry simultaneously as they remembered Guy's antics.
All the speeches recalled Guy's lighter moments and his habit of always having a smile on his face.
"He really was just that wonderful of a person," Weatherd said.
"I want you to feel the breeze," said Village Church pastor Lan Leavell. "We find the breath of God breathing on us tonight."
Leavell's speech introduced about an hour and a half of speeches and songs presented by members of Phi Kappa Sigma and Guy's family.
Britny Weatherd, Guy's girlfriend, said Guy would not have wanted the crowd to grieve for long, but to be happy.
"I know that in Heaven, I'll be looking for Karl," Weatherd said. Yolanda Duty, Guy's mother, sat with Guy's family that came from Fort Worth to the candlelight vigil. She was consoled one-by-one by almost all the members of the fraternity and Guy's friends.
"It takes a special person like Karl to uplift you from the lowest part of your life when you don't think you can get up," said Ryan Mangabang, Carrollton senior. "I feel like he's smiling down on all of us," he said.
Songs by the fraternity members gave way to a slideshow that was projected on a sheet over the doorway of the house. Photos of Guy played on the billowing screen and each one seemed to make the gathering laugh and cry simultaneously as they remembered Guy's antics.
All the speeches recalled Guy's lighter moments and his habit of always having a smile on his face.
"He really was just that wonderful of a person," Weatherd said.
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