Michael - I've lost my good mate.

[JeffinNZ]

Team.

The search has been called off. Michael is gone. We have been friends since 1974when we started primary school.

Michael is pictured below on the right. Myself in the middle and our mutual friend and my namesake, Jeff, on the left.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Quake%202011/JeffNBrownJeffRBrownandMichaelStyant.jpg

Rest well my friend.

[hardcase54]

Sorry for your loss Jeff,rest well Michael.

[Bret4207]

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and others affected by your loss.

[Boz330]

Sorry to hear that, my condolences and prayers.

Bob

[WILCO]

Sorry for your loss Jeff. Stay strong. Keep moving forward.

[1Shirt]

Hang tough! May God Bless!
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[Dean D.]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss Jeff. Thoughts and prayers heading out to all of you.

[Gunsmoke4570]

Sorry for you loss. Thoughts and prayers for you and his family and friends.

[NVcurmudgeon]

Jeff, very sorry to learn of Michael's passing. Our thoughts and prayers now will go out for Michael's family and friends as they cope with this devastating loss. Bill and Fran

[obssd1958]

Jeff,
Very sorry to hear about Michael. I know good friends are hard to come by, and I suspect you were both blessed to have each other for the time that you did. Keep the good times close in your heart.
Prayers sent from our house to yours, Michael's, and all those affected by this tragedy.

Don

[Muddy Creek Sam]

Jeff Prayers and Condolences to You and Micheal's Family. May God Bless you all in the time of Need.

Sam and Katie OneShot

[hoosierlogger]

Sorry to hear that Jeff. I am thinking of all who have lost family and friends in the disaster.

[Finster101]

Really sorry to hear it Jeff.

[Doc Highwall]

Sorry to hear that hope that is the end of the bad news.

[45nut]

Prayers and Condolences to you and Michael's family from here also.

[Von Gruff]

Condolences Jeff. The untimely loss is the hardest loss.

Von Gruff.

[sundog]

Jeff, losing a friend is tough. Cherish the memories.

[Te Hopo]

I'm sorry to hear that Jeff, all my family and friends made it out ok but I had some very tense times waiting to hear from some of them.
After seeing the devastation first hand in the Christchurch, you have my deepest sympathy.

Deano

[Euan]

Jeff,
I just don't know what to say. Other than very sad to hear your loss. Condolences to you and his family. I know we were waiting with worry, untill we heard from our daughter later that night.
Cheers Euan.

[Doc Highwall]

It is also nice that you have a picture of having a good time by the smiles in the picture and the great memories that will hopefully last forever.

[Beekeeper]

Jeff,
I know saying I'm sorry for your loss doesn't cut it sometimes, but I am truly sorry for your loss of a close friend and companion.

As someone who has lost a lot of friends and relatives over the years I would like to offer this.

Hang a picture of him somewhere you often go.ie: reloading room, ever so often lift a glass to him and remember the Good times, the bad times,the times you wanted to wring his neck and the times you both had a good laugh together.
By doing so you will never forget him and he will in some ways always be there.

I was part of a tonten in Vietnam.
I am the last of the members still living.
I am a member of this forum because of one of them.
My best friend was banned from here because of his beliefs. He had a saying( now I am not religious ) that made sence to me.
If you speak your friends name they never die, they are always with you as you have remembered their names.
His wife told me he had a practice that until he died he never missed., That was he lit a candle and into the smoke he spoke his friends names and in doing so he kept their memories alive..
I don't do it but I do something similar.

Long story short keep his memory alive and he will always be there.
Peace

Jim

[schutzen]

Jeff,

We are all very sorry for your loss. A few of us know your pain and emptyness. I lost a close friend ( High School, college, & Army together). No words make it better, but rest assured we all care.

Keep in close touch with his family, those kids will need a father figure Uncle Jeff. It is the single most rewarding thing you can do for your friend.

[peterthevet]

Jeff,
So sorry for the loss of your good friend ......... hang tough buddy. This crisis has really rocked a lot of Aussies - we are all thinking of NZ at the moment. Prayers sent for you, your friend and his family. Kind regards Peter

[swheeler]

Very sorry to hear that God Bless you all.

[JeffinNZ]

Thank you so much for your kind words.

I heard this evening that Michael's body has been recovered and identified so his family can now make funeral arrangements.

[armexman]

Jeff, may Michael "Descanse en Paz". Prayers for his Family and for you; I too know the loss of a best and good friend (RIP Joe Aliano)