This memorial website was created in memory of Spencer Lively.






Spencer was born in Nashville, Tennessee on September 12, 1986 and passed away on December 16, 2003 in McMinnville, Tennessee at the age of seventeen.

Spencer died playing "The Choking Game."(stop-the-choking-game.com) I, like other parents, had not heard of this, but looking back, the signs were there, blood shot eyes, headaches, and tingling arms.

Spencer had big dreams and set high goals for himself. He wanted to be an artist, a published author, a rock star, a philosopher, a missionary, and a theologian. He was always telling me, "Mom I am going to be on the cover of Guitar World some day."

Spencer loved playing his guitar and cherished his PRS. In 2001, he wrote a poem that was published, "The Red Letters." Spencer dedicated this poem to his savior Jesus Christ.

Spencer was involved in many extra - curricular activities. At Warren County High School he was a member of the Rugby Team, Quiz Bowl, Mu Alpha Theta, Beta Club, Key Club, Student Council, and served as WCHS Student Body Treasurer. Spencer was selected to Who's Who Among American High School Students three consecutive years. Spencer was also named to the National Honor Roll three consecutive years, He was invited to participate in a summer performance program at Berklee College of Music in MA. He was a Global Scholar Representative, Junior Statesman, and chosen at attend Governor's School. He was a member of the 2003 Homecoming court, representing the JR. class (class of 2005).

Spencer was also very active outside of the classroom. He was a Red Cross Lifeguard, a member of Boy Scout Troop 631 working on Eagle Scout. Spencer participated and completed McMinnville's Inaugural Triathlon in June 2003. Spencer loved God, and was very active in the youth program at Christ Community Church.

The outdoors is a gift to us from God to enjoy, cherish and to keep sacred. He loved to rock climb, cliff dive, go camping, and swim. From a very early age Spencer loved being out in God's playground. When he was a baby if he got fussy, all I had to do was to take him outside and the fresh air calmed him. Spencer protected what God created. You did not swat a fly, step on an ant, squash a bug in front of him and if you did you would get a sermon on how it was all a part of God's plan.

Spencer enjoyed reading and being read too. It wasn't unusual to pass his room and see him with two or three encyclopedias scattered across his bed. When he was in first grade, I took him to read to the residents at McMinnville Nursing Home. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more Spencer or the residents. Now, I look at all the Rubbermaid containers that hold his books and know that I should share them with other children, that's what Spencer would want. 

In September 2003, Spencer decided he wanted to learn to paint. He picked up a paint brush and on his Converse high top shoes painted Van Gouge's, Starry Night. Spencer and his shoes were the talk of the Christmas Dance, his last dance.

Spencer loved life. He wanted to make a difference in the world, and world issuses as global warming, world hungry, and child labor, weighed heavy on his heart.

Tatum, Spencer's sister, whom he loved deeply was his hero, he looked up to her, was proud of her, respected her and of course he was the typical "little brother" to her.

Spencer leaves behind, his mother, step-dad, sister, maternal and paternal grandparents, aunt and uncle, three first cousins, Ginny Ann, a large extended family, hundreds of friends and his beloved LENA GIRL...

A FEW OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS:

God*his momma

TATUM*nanny/pa

playing his PRS

Incubus*HONESTY

rock climbing*kool aid*

pig lickin cake*traveling

drivin with the windows down

family and friends

the outdoors

debating*ms g.bennett

lena girl* ccc youth group

the warren county fair

MUSIC* reading*RUGBY

being true to himself

being a FRIEND*c.mcgee

pink ties*fall of the year

grapes*dave matthews band

rice*flip flops*mission trips

key lime pie*swimming*spaghetti

HIS BIRTHDAY*caving*sleeping

japan*HUGS*batman*french fries

a full moon* starry nights*

thunder storms*children

gummy bears*mrs. l. davis

animals*the color yellow

power rangers*cliff diving

smiling*playing in the leaves

bunggie jumping*ginny ann

THIN AIR -WSP*taking a dare

DREAMING BIG*superman

talking*scarry movies*blow

rocket boys*harry potter

fear & loathing in las vegas

poetry*playing in the snow

mrs l. king*making people laugh

loyalty*cycling*john mayer

jack johnson*dinosaurs*drawing

painting*the painting starry night

hunter thompson*triathlons

live music*blue jeans*thrift stores

theology*mr. g. joslin* church

lifting weights*running

fruit roll ups*mr. ed

tires swings*being a prankster

studying different religions

ms m. potter*photography

boy scout troop 631* his computer

people*being in the spotlight

living a healthy lifestyle*running

and most of all he loved LIFE...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I Wish You Were Here

    ^^^ Incubus ^^^

I dig my toes into the sand
The ocean looks like
A thousand diamonds strewn
Across a blue blanket
I lean against the wind
Pretend I am weightless
And in this moment
I am happy  

I wish you were here
I wish you were here

I lay my head onto the sand
The sky resembles
A backlit canopy
With holes punched in it
I'm counting UFOs
I signal them with my lighter
And in this moment
I am happy

The world's a rollercoaster
And I am not strapped in
Maybe I should hold with care
My hands are busy in the air
I wish you were here 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Other children that have lost their lives:

Dylan Blake 

Chelsea Dunn

Nick Serna

Daniel Sheppard

Kimberly Wilson

Leo McPhee

Kelly McCarthy

Please help me raise awareness and educate others of this deadly game.
www.stop-the-choking-game.com
*************************************************************