|
Kerry went into cardiac arrest after an extended illness at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, November 28, 1998. Team efforts to rescusitate him continued until approximately 1:15 a.m. when he was pronounced dead.
He had suffered the gradual breakdown of all systems that is the course of his fatal disease, Wegener's granulomatosis, which begins with tumors in the lungs and advances through to kidney failure and global vascular breakdown. He had been rushed to the hospital for emergency bladder surgery just before Thanksgiving, and was not dialyzed on the holiday. On Friday, when I last spoke with him by phone, he was trying to arrange for dialysis; but that never happened, and his heart just gave out.
Born sixty years ago in the City of Lost Angels, in the Golden State of California, on April 17, 1938, Kerry Thornley had only one child, a son named Kreg Thornley, who is a young computer professional who wants the world to know little of him except that he is not "Kerry Junior," and is not involved in Kerry's politics or philosophies. His son loved him "as a dad."
A service was held on Sunday morning, November 29, 1998 at a crematorium in Cobb County. Kerry's quiet remains were laid out on a hospital gurney. His body was draped with a green cotton cover, except for his face, which was unmarred and unretouched. He was cold and still. Among the five seated in the front row with his son were Kerry's former wife, Cara Thornley, who cared for him throughout his last year.
Twenty-three participated in the Buddhist ceremony, which included meditations allowing the fetters which had bound Kerry to his suffering to be breathed in, and then released with the breath, along with prayers that his spirit be freed from confusion and pain and allowed to achieve its own true Illumination. Then a paper inscribed simply "Kerry Thornley" was burned while his spirit was chanted free.
Part of his ashes will be scattered in the sea off the coast of Sonoma, as were his father's, part will be scattered on a peak in Colorado, and part will be scattered in a Discordian waterfall he called his home in his latter days.
A Memorial Service was held for family and friends the Fifth of November, a Saturday night, at 7:30 p.m. at a Buddhist temple. Dick Thornley, one of Kerry's two younger brothers, started out by reminiscing about how Kerry had taken over the role of father for him and his brother Tom, but he was not the kind of father most people have. Rather, he was creative and funny and generous and nonjudgmental. Dick said Kerry made him feel like anything was possible, and nothing he might do could ever conceivably be wrong, stupid or foolish. He was inspired and empowered by his big brother.
Several friends spoke about their memories of Kerry, and Cara read a letter Kerry had written to a well-known pastor of the local First Baptist Church that satirized the pastor's views on diseases he preached were sent by God as punishment for the usual sins. There were many smiles and only a few tears.
Kreg spoke briefly on what it was like to be Kerry's son, shared some delightful memories, then gave a portion of Kerry's ashes to Dick Thornley, reserved another portion for himself, and gave a third portion to The Erisian Elestria, to whom has been entrusted by Kerry's own wishes the responsibility for memorializing the legacy left by the Discordian Nonprophet.
The latter portion of the remains temporarily rests in a "Spare Change" can Kerry had decorated and often displayed in Little Five points while he ruminated. This has become a part of the shrine created to honor his legacy, along with the zen watergarden which was foremost among his last wishes.
|
