RIP - my buddy 1911/Duane Wellington just passed away

[wheatonFJR]

STAX Pancake House preride breakfast. THANK YOU for that! Duane picked that place to meet up before rides, cuz it was an hour from home and close enough to the mountain roads. I'm hoping a meetup at STAX is part of the remembrance ride. I always knew which booth he would choose to sit in.

On this snow day (E-learning now) I got to thinking about Duane and went searching for my photos of him to support my memory.



He had that “arms crossed, just listening” pose in my mind and the proof is here as well


JWilly is also there.


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[Cav47]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wheatonFJR]

I wanted to find out about my fellow pallbearers, who they were and what their connection was to the family, so I asked...

Maralee clued me in the family's connection to the Pallbearers:
-Derrick Bridges was a longtime employer at Sandlappers Automotive, if what his son told me was correct, I believe Duane was his first employee. What a GREAT first hire, huh!

- Kyle Bridges is Derrick's son. Kyle has a special connection with Duane and vice/versa, as Kyle was a little kid who liked to hang out with Duane...and Duane taught how to ride a dirt bike. What a GREAT teacher and mentor! Duane was excited about an upcoming day ride, as he brought Kyle along on two rides that I remember, one where it was just the three of us and we did the Roan Mountain loop. I was trailing on that ride and Kyle learned a little more about decreasing radius turns on Rt. 80...nobody got hurt, but I'm sure it got his attention lol. Kyle wants to stay in touch and ride with us. Kyle also rode with Jwilly, Lumberg, Duane and I in NGA on a glorious fall day. Kyle can ride the crap out of a motorcycle, JSNS!

Asher Parris was friends with Duane through UPS, they hung out all the time including bringing his kids out to the farm in Laurens and riding the horses.

Ben Martinez worked with Duane for many years before Sandlappers and there as well. They once owned a shop together and the two families worked together.

John Beaty Jr. was a friend of Duane's through their air force parents being stationed together at various deployments, as both Duane's and John's dads were Air Force PJ's (Parachute Jumpers) that rescued Air Force pilots shot down during Vietnam and other rescue missions. Obviously, their dads were both STUDS. A number of those families grew up together and maintained friendships over the years.

Lastly, I feel like this is a lineup game of "which one is not like the others"...though feeling undeserving, I felt extreme honor in being chosen to represent his motorcycle friends. I also felt very happy to be able to help Maralee in this beyond-distressing time.

[El Toro Joe]

Thanks for representing Duane's FJR family Mark...glad you had the opportunity.

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks for representing Duane's FJR family Mark...glad you had the opportunity.

At first I read that wrong, but I know what you meant. Thank-you for that. I would rather not have that opportunity ever again...but I am glad that the family thought enough of me to do that. For that, I am thankful. No one ever wants to bury a friend.

[Hppants]

From my short time at the visitation, there is no doubt that Duane's family (beyond Marilee) recognized the importance of motorcycling and specifically the FJR family in his life.

Marilee introduced me to her daughters, sons in law, and Duane's brother as "this is the guy called Pants I told ya'll about". I'm not sure what she meant by that, and certainly didn't tempt fate by asking. Regardless, all of them made the connection.

[Hppants]

This set of pictures is from March 2018, on a trip to TWO (Suches, GA). Duane and Marilee came over to meet us and there was enough time to get past the formalities and get to know them.





I believe we made fajitas one evening and Duane had fun helping with the cooking. Notice, however, how much fun Marilee had WATCHING the boys cook.





Nobody went hungry, but Poolboy did look a little thin beneath the gills....





The next day it was Easter Sunday. No restaurants open, so we picked up groceries and made Dagwood Sandwiches at the Indian Boundry on the Cherahola Skyway.



Duane enjoyed watching us prepare the sandwiches.

[wheatonFJR]

Good stuff!

[Festus]

Viper Dad selfie with Duane, Wheaton, and me, on the Skyway, late 2022.



Viper Dad and Duane working on Viper Dad’s GPS

[wheatonFJR]

So. It is only about a week since I heard that Duane died. It feels like months.

There is a woman that lost a husband that needs support. Remember This. I will be making requests soon to ask you to help do our part to assist his widow.

[wheatonFJR]

Viper Dad selfie with Duane, Wheaton, and me, on the Skyway, late 2022.



Viper Dad and Duane working on Viper Dad’s GPS

Duane's voice, echoing in my comms that day, "Now THERE'S a Wheaton pass!..." <sheepish>

[wheatonFJR]

I spoke with Marilee today and she really wanted me to thank all of you for the condolences, posts of support, and photos of Duane.

As you can imagine, it is a great comfort to see photos of Duane, and posts of support...so she comes back to this thread often. So please understand that what you do for Marilee matters.

And that is no small thing.

[wheatonFJR]

This post is for Marilee:

For the 1911 remembrance ride we have riders, so far, coming from South Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.

We also have some maybes that hail from Virginia, Louisiana, Florida, and the midlands of South Carolina.

Hopefully this will be a special day as we salute Duane, and have a chance to console and give face to face condolences to Marilee.

[Blueridgerider]

Unfortunately I am just seeing this now but read through all the posts. It is hard to make sense of our existence sometimes when things happen like this to someone so full of life at such a young age. I guess when you put it all in perspective its why so many of us try our best to live life to the fullest, not just riding motorcycles, but in general. We all have a birthdate and a final date that none of will ever know, but its the dash in between that matters, how you live and what you make of your life. He seemed like someone who made the most of every opportunity and wish I could have met him. To all who knew him and called him a friend, I am so sorry to hear about this sudden loss.

[wheatonFJR]

FJRiders version of American Gothic

[wheatonFJR]

The town of Cripple Creek, as seen from over the graveyard.

I hope to return.

You will my friend...or at least the best I can do, some red clay from your homeplace will get there.

[wheatonFJR]

[wheatonFJR]

I thought it would good for Marilee to what sort of gathering she might expect at her place...so I've posted this for her. (Any FJRIDERS, any questions regarding the day, please ask it in the other thread).

UPDATED 3/31/23

Updated 3/31/23: Looks like 18 for breakfast at STAX, and 24 for BBQ out at the farm.

UPDATE 3/31/23
That brings me to making a list of ride attendees for planning purposes: I know stuff happens, but you must be at least 95% committed to consider yourself committed to this April 22nd ride.

Remembrance Riders

1. Mark/wheaton
2. Lumberg
3. Wayne/extrememarine
4. Danh600
5. Carl/Griff
6. Kyle Bridges/Duane's young friend on a Kawasaki
7. Chris Revelle/Duane's Son-in-law riding VFR that Duane helped him get from WI.
8. Joe/El Toro Joe
9. Jim/Zooomm
10. Iris
11. Andy/Bikergeek
12. Sooze
13. David/Wheaton Jr
14. Bob/Intech
15. Jeff/FJRPittsburgh
16. Steve/Festus
17. Joe/Blueridgerider

At STAX for breakfast
1. Marilee

Attending at Marilee's farm
1. Louanne, attending gathering at Marilee's farm only -bringing Bobby's BBQ
2. Duane's mom
3. Etta/Mrs Griff
4. Christine- my daughter (no bbq)
5. Erica - Marilee's daughter/Chris Revelle's wife
6. Amanda - Marilee's daughter/ JD's wife
7. JD-Marilee's son in law

Maybes/Fencepost sitters

1. Redfish?
2. Scott/Blind Squirrel
3.

[wheatonFJR]

I miss my friend.
Somehow, the approach of this event is intensifying my sadness regarding the loss of my good buddy Duane...and my other buddy Jason.

But I know that I will see many standup guys and gals riding to SC in about a week, who are coming from far away to console Maralee and to honor Duane...and that lifts my spirit. My wish is that it lifts Maralee's spirit as well to see all those that care about her, and her Duane.

[wheatonFJR]

Duane at Roan Mtn. Looking out into forever...