OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — There were tears on Friday night, but laughter was the main event as friends and family gathered to remember Houston St. John. St. John’s Shawnee Mission West family packed the auditorium in and shared some find funny memories following a painful week of coming to grips with his death following a cross-over crash on Tuesday.
The service started with a performance by the choir. Then-one-by one several students told stories. One student talked about a performance last year. Houston had been sick all week and in the middle of one of the performances, he blew his nose. He got such a huge laugh; Houston did it again the next night, not because he had to, but because it was funny.
Then one of Houston’s best friends from the seventh grade told the story about the white elephant gift exchange last Christmas. Houston gave a pair of pink bunny slippers. His friend brought them to the service and put them on. Houston’s mom and dad had a huge laugh.
It was a kind of friend Houston was and will always be remembered for.
In addition to several hundred attendees on Friday night, several hundred more people attended Houston’s visitation Friday afternoon. His funeral is Saturday morning.
Coverage from St. John’s Friday afternoon visitation:
