Intelligence, Kindness, and Generosity Born in Cushing Oklahoma in 1963, Brian spent a lot of his early life at the schools where his mother taught. Being the token 'fat kid' delegated him to spending a lot of time alone. Although not a true introvert, his early years did shape his uniqueness. Brian started searching out knowledge at a young age. When the internet came along, it was his saving grace. He could research to his hearts content. From his beloved cats, to the history of the world, to movies, to music...just a few of the topics found on his computer...The Autobiography of Mark Twain, Ken Burns' Civil War, Demystifying the Higgs Boson, John Milton's Paradise Lost, Star Trek, Comics, Superheroes, and 11 Hours of Tibetan Healing Sounds. Recently, while online he had come upon an Advanced Physics Class at Berkley. He was very excited that he understood everything the Professor was talking about. His teenage years brought forth a condition that influenced the rest of his life, OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Although lots of people joke about it or about having it, he had the clinical disorder that changed who he would become in life. A mad scientist, a physicist, an astronomer...what could have been. Instead an intelligent mind was spent chasing knowledge through a small screen in order to avoid the illogical thoughts that ran through his mind. But, it was that small screen that finally brought him love. Kimmi came into his life in his 41st year. To every date he brought a gift of some sort...jewelry, a cd or a single rose. Since both Kimmi and Brian lived with a parent, their after date kissing sessions took place in his car. More than a couple of times down by a lake or on a country road the flashlight of a policeman broke up their affections. All involved found the humor in finding 2 forty year olds making out in a car. He finally took Kimmi home to meet his mother and his cats. As the single caregiver for her, he did an amazing job of making sure all of her needs were met. She was a lovely lady. Brian had 3 cats, 2 sisters both names Tabby and a one eyed Russian blue named Pip. Brian explained that a cat had had a litter of kittens in his flower bed and he noticed that one of the kittens had had his eye scratched out. He called and cancelled a date he was all ready for and he took the little guy to the vet. Brian nursed that little guy back to health and soon found himself a new best buddy. Pip was the beginning of a long line of rescues. Brian couldn't stand to see anyone or anything suffering. When he learned of a local charity Street Cats that made spaying and neutering affordable, he had a new mission? Spay and neuter the strays of Cushing. The only problem with that plan was that while recuperating, the cats ended up in the house and then usually didn't leave. In the last 10 years, probably 20 cats were fixed and saved by Brian and his kind heart. It has been said that you can truly judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. Let us all be so judged! After spending a lot of time with Brian, his love of Superheroes became very apparent. He spent many hours playing an online game, City of Heroes, where he created a hero and was then able to go on missions and save the world one bad guy at a time. He created many different characters and enjoyed becoming them all. In time a sequel was released called City of Villains. He was so excited to get it, but when he finally did he rarely played it. He realized that he didn't like being the bad guy. In his game play as in real life, he was and always will be a hero. Shortly after the passing of his mother, his own health started to fail him: blisters, infections, toe amputations, sepsis, loss of kidney function and the most serious blow, a broken ankle that refused to heal. After a long 3 year battle to save that leg, he finally agreed to have it amputated. After the surgery he returned to a rehabilitation center The Villages at Southern Hills where he'd been when he first broke his ankle. Although he hated being away from Kimmi, he found his stride in helping the staff help the other patients. Although helpful and kind, Brian was choosy when it came to friends, but his time at the Villages brought him 2 true friends Dak and Greg that remained until the end. Also, the Boling family of Cushing served as his second family and for that I know he was grateful. In the last months of his life as tough as they were, his eye would light up when he knew he was going to hang out with the Bolings. He dealt with the loss of his leg amazingly well and was in the process of learning how to walk with a prosthetic leg. Always the optimist, this time he questioned if he would ever walk again. To leave you with a happy thought...after one of his last medical appointments in Tulsa, we had gone out to eat. Brian saw a lady making balloon characters for the kids in the restaurant. When he realized she was making a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, he couldn't stop talking about it. He had to have one! He went on and on and on about it until I asked the waitress to please get the balloon lady to our table. With a laugh she did just that. Soon the balloon lady was standing before us working her magic. The joy that the simple Ninja Turtle balloon figurine brought to his face revealed his true childlike nature. As I was pushing him out of the very busy restaurant, he was holding his balloon and I realized how we must have looked to the world. When I relayed my thoughts to Brian, we both began to laugh So, today in his honor I ask you to embrace your childlike qualities and to spread around acts of kindness in his name. Service: 09/14/2015 00:00 11:00 a.m. Epworth Methodist Church Tulsa, Oklahoma