Bruce and Steve and I rode together almost weekly. We all rode together Saturday the day before the accident and had just planned four day weekend trip to Eureka Springs, AR later this month and a weeklong trip in September to the NE area.

I am so thankful for their friendship and all the great riding we have done together over the last three years. Every time we hit the road we got to see a part of heaven. I am blessed for the time we had together and sadder than words can express that you’re both gone. I will always miss you both. When you see me riding just swoop down and soar along side of me.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Familes-Remember-Four-Killed-In-Van-Zandt-County-Crash-124982534.html

This is just so sad. There are never the right words, there is just always so many questions.

Please keep us informed on the other driver.

Thank you all from the families and me for the kind thoughts and prayers! I have and will continue to share these with the families.

As you know many people just cannot relate to our passion for riding. Many look at it as an unnecessary risky activity. To most of us riding is a spiritual experience, one that brings us close to Nature and God. We see and experience what so many never do. We meet people that we would otherwise never meet and learn of greatness within them that we otherwise may never have discovered.

I have been in sales all my life whether it in my own businesses or working for a company and hence I meet a lot of people and have a huge network but I have meet the best people and developed the best friendships through riding. They are the ones that are accountable, predictable and dependable. They have backbone and are always there when you need them. You don’t need to ask because they are always vigilante and have a sense of when and where to be to help. Bruce and Steve were both like this!

Bruce and I had planned to ride to Helen, GA again this year to see many of you at the SE Victory Rally but he needed the time to spend with his sister and I had an opportunity to do a long trip with some other friends.

I have learned these things; as long as man walks this earth nothing will trump our relationships with others and man will never make anything that will compete with what God has created in nature. Cherish and cultivate your relationships and get out there on your bike and experience more of the awe-inspiring nature this country has to offer. I hope I have an opportunity to meet and ride with many more of you. Ride safe and may you ride many more years before God calls you home.

Here are the Visitation and Funeral arrangements for Bruce Bricker.

The Funeral will be this Friday at 2:00 PM at:
First Baptist Church of Lewisville
1251 W. Valley Ridge Blvd.
Lewisville, TX 75077
(972) 436-5502

Steve Claterbaugh’s family is still working on his arrangements but to Steve’s wishes they will be much less formal and probably a week from this Friday or Saturday. I will let you all know.

genuin - 2011-07-06 1:45 PM Will Shannon's funeral be the same time as Bruce's?

Yes, Shannon and Bruce's services will be combined.

Thanks,

Thank you all for all your kind thoughts and prayers. It not only means a lot to me and the families but to every member of this forum seeing the level of caring and support they can expect from us all.

I was a pallbearer for Bruce and Shannon at their funeral today. A huge crowd of family and friends attended and the services were great. Support came from everywhere. Rick Fairless and about 10 of his employees from Strokers Dallas where we all bought our Victory Visions were there as well as Mike McMillan the District Sales Manager for Victory. To me that defines a whole new level of customer support… one that is priceless.

We are still working on finalizing a “Celebration of Life” event for both Steve and Bruce with a memorial ride to follow. We are tentatively looking at holding this on the morning of Saturday the 23^rd at Strokers Dallas and then do the memorial ride. I will let you know once we have it all confirmed.

I also wanted to share with you all two of my favorite quotes related to living our life.

Warmest regards,

Please join us in Celebrating the Life and remembering four very special people!

Smitty - 2011-07-21 9:21 PM It brought me great solice when my wife died, and then when my mom passed this past December 11 months later. "Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name; speak to me in the easy way, which you always used. Put no difference in your tone; wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was, let it be spoken without effect without the trace of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was; there is unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well." Henry Scott Holland

Smitty, thanks for sharing this, it is great and expresses my beliefs.

Thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and prayers! The families thank you also.