RIP @heltershelton

[AntStrat]

+1
He was extremely open about his struggles, and persistence in his fight for life.
To wipe anything related from the forum would for one thing, be an insurmountable task for the admin, because it was hundreds/thousands of posts and replies.
But it would also eliminate much of what Kelly shared with his friends here, including images of his recovery from surgery.
Accomplishing this would simply not be possible without deleting nearly every thread Kelly started, as well as his posts and replies that may have quoted him.

His health issues is, in my opinion, was one of the big things that made you love the guy.

Not "oh poor you" or stuff like that, it just showed how much of a man he was by sharing his vulnerabilities with his friends. As always he was who he was, honest-up front-didn't give a **** what you thought. With every post he made it was 'this is me'. Now that is something to brag about! (imho of course)

 

[BTAudio]

I just think to myself "What would Kelly tell me to do?"

Man, super cool tribute to Kelly over here! https://www.bluetuneaudio.com/single-post/rip-kelly

 

[bluejazzoid]

@Kristallica - I'm truly sorry for your loss.

But HIPAA laws protect us from healthcare professionals and organizations revealing private information regarding our medical record and/or current health issues and treatments. HIPPA laws have no power to stop internet friends on a forum from talking about their health issues amongst themselves.

And mods - do whatever you wish, but seriously: as everyone who knew Kelly knows, anything ever shared and discussed here about Kelly and his health issues would have been something Kelly openly shared with us himself.

 

[Butcher of Strats]

Can we just compromise and drop the arguing over our legal right to detail a friends medical info on the net?
Is there an honorable goal in that argument?

Ive openly detailed my past heroin addiction on guitar forums, but after I eventually pass, if friends repeating that stuff upsets my wife/ widow/ ex wife, I don’t need my friends making sure to repeat my past health problems .

 

[El Gobernador]

Everyone handles greif differently. It's like a seven layer dip. Some stuff is close to the top, and some you have to dig for.

We're seeing that right here. Everyone...I mean everyone...needs to cut the greif-stricken some slack. From the casual friend, to the best friend, to the family and former spouses.

We all lost him. Come together on that.

Kelly would have wanted it that way.

 

[White Dog]

Everyone handles greif differently. It's like a seven layer dip. Some stuff is close to the top, and some you have to dig for.

We're seeing that right here. Everyone...I mean everyone...needs to cut the greif-stricken some slack. From the casual friend, to the best friend, to the family and former spouses.

We all lost him. Come together on that.

Kelly would have wanted it that way.

Amen!

 

[BTAudio]

edited

 

[Mansonienne]

Message from Barb: She feels horrible to hear of Kelly's passing - she always thought he was a very special person, always helpful and encouraging.

 

[bluejazzoid]

Message from Barb: She feels horrible to hear of Kelly's passing - she always thought he was a very special person, always helpful and encouraging.

Tell Barb I said "Hi" (and "pfffftt" )

 

[ZlurkCorzDog]

FWIW, I think Kelly would be super proud of how the forum is putting aside a lot of the petty/daily bickering that usually goes on here, over just about any topic you can think of, and has come together as a community. As many of you know, he would often be the first one that would try to "shake something shiny" to distract some in-fighting going on. Kinda fitting in a way.

FWIW. Far as I know Kelly & I were the only long timers that didn't have anyone on ignore. There may be other's unknown to me. Yes, along with his strong personality, being a peacemaker was also one of his positive traits.

 

[sam_in_cali]

FWIW. Far as I know Kelly & I were the only long timers that didn't have anyone on ignore. There may be other's unknown to me. Yes, along with his strong personality, being a peacemaker was also one of his positive traits.

Funny story: Kelly was one of the first guys on here that befriended me when I joined the forum and the first guy from here I actually spoke with IRL via skype ; so my wife comes home while I'm talking with him and he's waving his handgun around and my wife sees the screen is all WTF is going on?! Relax hun, just chatting with some stranger on the internet

 

[JJ119]

I think I am going to leave the forum for awhile

Take Care, Buddy!!
I look forward to your return, Good Sir!!

 

[Scott Baxendale]

I didn't see it posted anywhere here, but for whoever wants to know, @heltershelton passed away the other day. I know he was on here frequently, told me a lot about it. Just made this username to pass that message along. Feel free to get in touch with me if you'd like to know anymore.

Ian

EDIT 3. I want you all to know, I came here because Kelly said so much about you guys. With as much as he talked about it, I knew you all would want to know. I found out just how much he was loved, this thread is an amazing tribute. I’m sure he’d want you to know how much he felt about his relationships with all of you, he really cared. I wouldn’t have come here and told you if he didnt talk so much about you.

That said… I miss my friend. I don’t really know how much the family would want me to talk about things, but I thought you all should know. This is a guy I’m really going to miss a lot. This is a guy that believed in me when nobody else did. This guy was my brother, and I loved him like one.

EDIT: I got a ton of messages so I thought I’d just answer the more common asked questions here.

My name is Ian, Kelly has been my best friend and “brother from another mother” for 20 years. I found out about this yesterday morning. The most I know is that he was found by someone, and that it’s likely due to the heart problems he’s had his whole life. I don’t know details on service, etc, but would be happy to post it when I do have it.

Edit 2: I posted my own tribute yesterday.

This is so sad. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. He made many comments on my posts.

 

[Eric_G]

I can confirm the position that @bluejazzoid has expressed, however I also side with @Butcher of Strats on this issue. Regardless of the law, I will respect @Kristallica wishes and would suggest we all do.

Let's all remember Kelly for who is was, a great member contributing to our forum and a better friend to others.

 

[dbb541]

Terrible news. RIP

 

[davidKOS]

Everyone...I mean everyone...needs to cut the greif-stricken some slack. From the casual friend, to the best friend, to the family and former spouses.

We all lost him. Come together on that.

Kelly would have wanted it that way.

What he said...and even louder than 11

 

[Bodean]

Everyone handles greif differently. It's like a seven layer dip. Some stuff is close to the top, and some you have to dig for.

We're seeing that right here. Everyone...I mean everyone...needs to cut the greif-stricken some slack. From the casual friend, to the best friend, to the family and former spouses.

We all lost him. Come together on that.

Kelly would have wanted it that way.

Damn straight he would

 

[bluejazzoid]

Let's all remember Kelly for who is was, a great member contributing to our forum and a better friend to others.

I agree.

But it's precisely the fact that Kelly ---so cool, tough, talented, funny, honest, unafraid-- openly shared his sickness (or weakness, or whatever you want to call it) with all us here on our forum is what drew us all in even more. He never hid behind some pretend persona like many can and do online.

In fact, the truth is - if it weren't for Kelly discussing his health issues with us here like he openly did from time to time, a lot of us might still be asking "What happened???" right now..... but we aren't. Thanks to Kelly being Kelly, we actually know (or at least have an idea).

What I remember (and love) about Kelly is genuinely AMPLIFIED by knowing he that struggled with something like that all his life, and he opened up to all of us about it ---the whole forum, not just privately--- and yet was still the bad-ass, guitar slinging sumb*tch we all love.

For that to now be thought of as some kind of taboo subject here seems like something Kelly would take out in the woods and shoot (if it were possible). He never was ashamed of it.

 

[Lonn]

I think Kelly would agree that 21 pages of tribute to him is probably enough so this thread will be locked before it turns sideways. I am not going to allow that.