Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Chris Utter, 1975-2009

Well, I figured my first post this week was going to be about the move and how excited we are about our new place. It's not about that.

It's partially because we're having severely mixed emotions about that.

But mostly, it's because I lost a friend and classmate.

Christopher Allen Utter, 34, of Kansas City, KS, died Saturday, June 27, 2009. Graveside Services will be 10:00 A.M. Thursday, July 2, at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends may call 5-8:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Porter Funeral Home, 1835 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Rd., Kansas City, MO 64137. Christopher was born February 18, 1975, in Kansas City, KS. He was a Funding Coordinator for Advacare Medical Equipment. Christopher had a huge part in the softball community in the Kansas City area. He is survived by his wife, Nicolette C. Utter, mother and step-father Debra and Howard Swafford, grandmothers Erma Leach, Maxine Swafford, sister Stacy and her husband Troy Ray, step-sister Angel Simpson, step-brother Joel Swafford, niece Jesslyn Buie, nephews Frank Buie, Donovan Christopher Buie, and Wesly Allen Butler, and his 3 furry cats: Al, Josie, and Cleo. Condolences may be expressed at: www.porterfuneralhome.com. Arrangements: Porter Funeral Home & Crematory, 1835 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS; (913) 621-6400.

Chris Utter was big, kind, funny, strong as an ox, and one of the most well-liked people in my class.

He was a tremendous athlete, somehow managing to participate in baseball AND track even though they happened concurrently.

He was sort of quiet, but in that mischievous way that always made you feel like he was one step or one joke ahead of you.

He drank from 2-liter bottles of Dr. Pepper with the label ripped off (to use the coupon that was perpetually stamped on the side).

He was friendly to everyone, not just those who enhanced his social status.

I'm still trying to get my head around this, especially the circumstances under which he died. It makes no sense to me. I simply don't understand.

May you rest in peace, Chris.

2 comments:

Steaming bowl o' Calderone said...

I'm sorry, Josh. Let me know if you need to talk.

Corey said...

That is weird and sad. Sorry to hear about it.