Douglas (DJ) Alden Stuart II was a unique individual. He was truly one of a kind. He died last Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at the age of 27-years-old. He was one of my son’s, Nathan’s, best friends. As Nate put on is Facebook page, “Today I lost a lifetime friend.” So did I. The pencil drawing is by one of DJ’s best friends Thomas Rockwell. That’s the DJ I knew!
DJ was born in 1984 after the tragic death of his father, Doug, in a mountain climbing accident. DJ had multiple health issues all of his life but he did not let it stop him. Emblazed on his hands were the tattooed words “hold fast.”
I think of lyrics of the chorus in the Mercy Me’s song, Hold Fast. They are as follows:
Hold fast
Help is on the way
Hold fast
He's come to save the day
What I've learned in my life
One thing greater than my strife
Is His grasp
So hold fast.
DJ held fast all of his life. In recent years he started a non-profit called New Empire Apparel (www.newempireapparel.com) They sell t-shirts to raise funds for needy children and youth who are experiencing severe and life-threatening health issues. Faithfully DJ held fast to the comfort God gave him by offering that same comfort to so many.
He had a wonderful sense of humor. When I graduated from seminary in 1991, DJ and his mother Mary came out to Colorado to help us celebrate. As we were driving through southern Colorado, DJ (7-years-old at the time) asked Nate (8-years-old), “Hey Nate. What about those Baywatch babes.” DJ always loved girls and had many who were his friends that stayed by his bedside the week before he passed away into his real home in heaven.
We met DJ as a baby when my wife, Mary, started to take care of DJ for his mother, Mary, so she could work. Every morning he would persistently ask, “Where’s Nate?” He knew where he was and would promptly go into Nate’s room and wake him up.
DJ honored my son by traveling to Colorado in June of 2008 to serve as Nate’s best man as Nate married the love of his life, Megan. The day before the wedding DJ was in our ICU struggling to breath. He told everyone I’m the best man and I’m in the wedding tomorrow and that he was. I thank DJ and his mother Mary for being at every significant event of our lives through the years and across the miles.
This eulogy is appropriate for my Creations Musings blog for DJ was a unique individual who gave his life and experiences, painful and pleasurable, wholly to the Lord. I’m going to miss him and I intend to remain unique as God created me. What about you?
