Travis Jacob McDow

November 21, 1983--January 28, 2007
       
 

                                    


                                     
    This memorial site is created in memory of my dear son, Travis Jacob McDow who died at the age of 23 as a result of an automobile accident on January 28th, 2007, along with his very good friend James Welvaert, 22.  They died together.  I know they are together still.
                    
   Travis is survived by his mother and stepfather, Greg and Margene (Milefchik) Willis, his father Timothy McDow, his three older brothers, Shawn Masias and his wife Vallie, Aaron Masias, and Lance Masias and his wife Trishia, and a stepsister, Jesyca Willis.

     He was adored by his nieces and nephews, Ashton, Paige, Laynee, Gabriel, Taylor, Grace, and Alexis.  He would tease them constantly and they loved it.  They miss him as much as we do and in their little minds have had to deal with the death of someone they love a lot sooner than most do.

     He leaves behind his fiance Sarah Chesling. Although they had not married yet, she will always be a part of our family.

     Travis was the youngest of four boys.  Living in a house with four boys was not always a peaceful house but I wouldn't change it for anything.  First came Shawn, Aaron and Lance, and six years later came my baby---Travis.  He was my joy.  I enjoyed him so much.  With the other boys in school, Travis and I became very close and remained close throughout his life.  He did everything with me, and I loved him so.

     I'm a hairstylist and he probably had every different haircut a young kid could have.  He let me put highlights in his hair and perm it.  All along knowing that he was so cool.

     He WAS cool.  From the time he was little he had a mind of his own.  He knew what he wanted to do and he worked hard until he had done it.  If he didn't want to do something, there was no talking him into it. 
 
     He worked from the time he was 15 and loved trucks.  In fact, he bought his first one before he was able to drive.  He must have had four or five trucks and each time paying cash for them and then selling at a profit.  He had a good head on his shoulders and was very good at saving his money.

     When he died he had a rental house with tenants and a beautiful home of his own.  All at the age of 23.  He had accomplished so much in such a short time.  I was so proud of him and told him so often.

     He grew into a tall, thin, good looking young man.  He would do anything for anybody.  If I ever needed anything done all I had to do is mention it and he was there to help me out.  I will miss so much that he is not here.  My heart is broken and will never be the same. I miss him so much, my baby boy, my son, my friend.

     Please add your memories and thoughts about Travis or light a candle in his memory.  Keep coming back and do so often.

     WE LOVED THAT BOY AND MISS HIM SO VERY MUCH!   IF ONLY WE COULD BRING HIM BACK.  

Travis was such a wonderful young man who was so full of life.  He worked so hard all the time, tirelessly.  Now I think somehow he knew he had only 23 years to accomplish everything he wanted to do.  If you were his friend, you were his friend for life.  He possessed so many good qualities and he set high standards for himself.

When we lost Travis, we lost a very special part of our family.  Our hearts are broken and there are no words to ease the pain.  We are devastated by the loss of Travis and our lives will never be the same.

You never get over losing your child__all time does is remind us each day that he is still gone, and not coming back.  We were not prepared for this.  I will never say goodbye.  We are trying to learn to live without him, but I know that is not possible.  I know we have his memories, and the love we have for him will last forever, but the pain does not go away.

He brought so much joy to our family.  It just isn't right that hes not here with us.  He left us way too soon.

 

       

 

Travis,  "You will always be the answer whenever someone asks me what I'm thinking about"

Travis and James

Memories of Travis

He loved Sarah and he loved his mom.
He loved his brothers.
He loved his life.
He loved to go four Wheeling

He loved to go camping
He loved bowling,
He loved fishing,
He loved tubing down the river with his friends
He loved vacations in Wisconsin

He was saving money for  a Harley
He had a coin collection
He loved the Cubs, Bears and Illini
      He loved Persian Cats,  Pepper and Haylee  

    
He was very proud of his beautiful home
He landscaped my backyard
He was a "pack rat" and saved everything. As 
a kid he would always say "I'll have it!"  

 He had so many good friends. 

 He was so good to us.
He loved country music, cowboy boots and hats
He loved teasing his nieces and nephews

You never saw Travis without a hat!!

Travis only drove Ford Trucks

This was Travis' license plate

Travis was a Scorpio and he had a tattoo of a scorpion on his chest

 This is a Tribute left by Travis' friends on the wall at the famous Tootsies Lounge in Nashville.  Yes, he would have loved it!!

Travis McDow & James Welvaert

In Memory

I've come for a little chat, son, I know that you can hear. Whenever things are difficult, I always come back here.  I tidy around and talk to you and think about the past.  All those precious moments destined not to last.  In a quiet little cemetary where the gentle breezes blow, lies my Travis, who died a while ago.  His resting place I visit, place flowers there with care, But no one knows my heartache when I turn and leave him there.  Though his smile is gone forever, and his hands I cannot touch, I have so many memories of the boy I love so much.  I feel his eyes upon me as I turn to walk away, and that little chat I had with him, gets me through another day!!

   Missing you Travis

We thought of you with love today
but that is nothing new.
We thought about you yesterday,
and the day before that, too.

God gave us the strength to face this,
And courage to bare the blow,
But what it meant to lose you,
No one will ever know.

They say time heals all sorrows, 
And helps one to forget.
So far time has only proved
How much we miss you yet.

We think of you in silence,
and often speak your name.
All we have are memories, 
and your picture in a frame.

Your memory is our keepsake,
with which we'll never part.
God has you in his keeping,
we have you in our hearts

    
      

                                                    

                                                             




 The Cord

We are connected,
My Child and I 
By an Invisible Cord
Not seen by the Eye

Its not like the Cord
that connects us til' birth
This cord can't be seen
By any on earth.

This cord does its work
Right from the start
It binds us together
Attached to my heart.

I know that its there
Though no one can see
The invisible cord
From my child to me.

The strength of this cord
Its hard to describe
It can't be destroyed
It can't be denied.

Its stronger than any cord
Man could create
It withstands the test
Can hold any weight.

And though you are gone,
Though you're not here with me,
The cord is still there
But no one can see.

It pulls at my heart
I am bruised...I am sore
But this cord is my lifeline
As never before.

I am thankful that God
Connects us this way,
A Mother and Child
Death can't take that away!

FOR MY SON

Something will remind me

I never know just when,

It might be something someone says

And it all comes back again.

The times we spent together

The happiness, the fun

Once again I feel the pain

Of life without my son.

It's said that times a healer,

I'm not sure that this is true.

Theres not a day goes by my son,

That I don't cry for you.
 

Travis,    
We love and miss you more every day
Life is not the same without you
Our hearts ache that your not here with us
You are missed so much be everyone
You are our Guardian Angel.

                       
                                     
                                    

                       
A Million Times

A Million times we've needed you,
A million times we've cried.
If love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died.
If all the world was ours to give,
We would give it all and more,
To see you coming up the steps,
and walking through the door.
To hear your voice and see your smile,
To sit and talk to you awhile,
To be with you the same old way,
Would be our happiest day.
A heart of gold stopped beating,
Two smiling eyes closed to rest,
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best.   

      

    


There is a Special Angel in Heaven
that is a part of me
It is not where I wanted him
But where God wanted him to be.
He was here but just a moment
like a night time shooting star
And though he is in Heaven
he isn't very far
He touched the hearts of many
like only an Angel can do.
So I send this special message
To the Heaven up above
Please take care of my Angel
and send him all my love.


            
   




A MOTHERS POEM

You see me smiling.  What you don't see is that I am screaming behind that smile.  You see me go on with everything...work...shopping...life in general.  What you don't see is that it takes every ounce of energy I have just to breathe.

You see me alone with my thoughts.  What you don't see is me talking to him.  You see me say "I am fine".  What you don't see is the huge hole in my heart that can never be filled.

You see me and think "Shes back to normal".  What you don't see is that there is no normal for me anymore.  You see me and think "Oh my God, I hope this never happens to me"  What you don't see is that as much as I long for you to understand me, I hope this never happens to you either.

You see me joking and laughing with others and think she must be getting over what has happened.  What you don't see is that I can never forget, nor would I want to.  You never get over the loss of a child.

You see me sad and don't know what to say, so you keep going.  What you don't see is all I really want is for you to ask how I am doing, really, and give me a hug. 

You see that I am strong...do not be deceived.  What you don't see is that I am weak and weary.  Some days I am 6 feet from the edge.  What you see is a mask....a lie.  The mask helps you cope with me and me cope with myself.  What you don't see is the raw, sometimes unbearable pain.  You don't see me being unable to breathe.  What you don't see is my despair. 

 You don't see me screaming to heaven to give my son back.  What you don't see you could never understand anyway unless you walk in my shoes...God Forbid.  What you don't see is that on January 28th, 2007 the life I had will never be the same.

 
                
   
 
For visiting Travis' site.

Please light a candle before you leave. It does our hearts good to know you care.

                                              

My Child

On the day God took you
I thought that I would die.
I wondered where the time went
I ask a lot of whys??
With people all around me
I felt alone inside.
From all their words of comfort,
I couldn't seem to hide.
I thought I might be dreaming
and I'd wake and find you here.
I thought "This can't be happening"
As I wiped another tear.
On the day that you were laid to rest,
my heart broke yet again,
I wondered if the pain would end,
But mostly, I wondered when?
Its hard to be without you,
At times the days seem long,
Sometimes I just sit crying,
When theres really nothing wrong.
I wish we'd had more time
Before your life was done.
I hope your resting peacefully,
My Precious Youngest Son