PARKER COUNTY — There are dozens of condolence cards in a box. There’s a decorative bonsai tree in a corner of the breakfast nook off the kitchen. At the top of the stairs, there’s a photo of him.

Travis George smiles in the photo taken by Parker County photographer Megan Parks. He’s dressed in a suit, but he looks relaxed, happy.

And, that’s who he was, said his mother, Joy George.

After the 21-year-old died suddenly and tragically, his mother was left with a lot of reminders of her son and how he touched others. From the cards that came from her coworkers — including a personalized note from the CEO of her company — to the bonsai tree that friends of Travis gave her — reminiscent of his love of the Asian culture — to the photo that hangs above the staircase — which was made into a canvas print from Parks’ photo and put in a frame donated by Chris and Barbara Hummel, all within three days and in time for Travis’ memorial service.

Yet, George knew that something more was needed.

While she couldn’t speak at her son’s funeral, the grief still too overwhelming at that point, she later wrote him a letter.

“There is a hole in my heart,” she wrote in that letter.

While nothing will ever be able to fill the void there that her son occupied, what George decided to do after Travis’ death will go on to help others for years to come. As she continues her grief, she also finds strength in preparing for a golf fundraiser on Sept. 9 at Canyon West. Proceeds from that, coupled with a donation from Travis’ employer and some donations from family and friends, will go into a fund to establish a scholarship at Weatherford College.

“I would like to try to help someone in this community,” George said, noting that Weatherford is still a hometown community where people are close.

Always happy

George rarely saw her son in a bad mood, she recalled. Even as a child, he was just happy.

“We could go to the park with no friends — and then just end up with all these friends,” she said, noting how gregarious her son was.

By the time he got to high school, he was a hard worker who volunteered at the Pythian Home Haunted House, worked at Brookshire’s grocery store and helped younger children learn to play the saxophone.

“He just loved music,” George said, who added that her son could play saxophone, keyboard and guitar.

That love of music extended far beyond typical pop music that teens and young adults like — he even enjoyed classicial.

“He went to Bass Hall by himself,” George recalled with a slight smile. “He didn’t care, he just loved music.”

In her letter to her son, she thanks him for showing her how to be carefree and enjoy life. Because those were the qualities that defined Travis, he mother said.

He started attending college at Weatherford College in order to knock out some basic courses, but then transfered to the University of North Texas in Denton to study music.

But, one day, that carefree spirit kicked in and he said, “Mom, I’m going to move to Austin.”

Apprehensive at first, George also watched her son take charge of his destiny. He got a job lined up and a roommate in order to ensure he could afford to make the move.

He’d recently moved when he called her on July Fourth to say he felt he was coming down with bronchitis. She told him to take it easy and try to find an emergency room or urgent care where he could be seen. Later, he texted to say he was feeling a bit better.

As planned, George, her boyfriend and daughter, went to Las Vegas on a family trip, not knowing what was to come.



Turning around tragedy

After they arrived in Vegas, George texted her son to see if he was feeling better, but she received no response. That wasn’t too unusual, though, after all, a 21-year-old doesn’t just automatically text back to their mother right away.

George and her family enjoyed their short trip, but missed their flight home.

Meanwhile, Travis’ roommate had come back to Weatherford for July Fourth, but headed home two days later. He found Travis at home. While sorting out their missed flight, George heard from her oldest son, who told her that Travis had passed. Although the medical examiner’s report isn’t final, it seems that Travis had an enlarged heart that had not been detected previously.

Yet, there are no clear answers at to why Travis died. That fact does haunt George.

“I’d like to point out that everyone, regardless of age, should take advantage of a yearly visit to their medical provider,” she said. “Had our family been diligent in heeding this advice, Travis’ condition may have been diagnosed and treated.”

In the aftermath, George saw just how well loved her son was. At the funeral, the reverend had to tell people to “crowd in” so that everyone could get a seat.

Still, it was difficult for the mother, not just because of the loss of her son but because she hadn’t had to deal with grief like this before — there haven’t been many deaths in her family, even her grandmother is still living.

So, it was natural for her to want to shy away from people.

She found, however, that that inclination didn’t help her grief.

“I’m finding now that everybody’s thoughts and prayers, their reaching out and talking about it — it really does help,” George said.

That’s when she knew she had to take it a step further.

She has established the Travis George Memorial Scholarship Fund at Weatherford College for a student interested in pursuing a music career. Ideally, George said, she would like to have enough money raised so that a scholarship can be given soon. Endowed scholarships are put into a fund and the interest is used annually to give out scholarships, but George doesn’t want to wait years to see results — she wants to help students now.

For those who cannot attend the golf tournament fundraiser, contributions can also be made directly to Weatherford College for the scholarship fund.

George is also seeking donations of prizes and any money that can help pay for the green fees and other fees associated with putting on the tournament. So far, the donations she’s raised include tools from Home Depot, dry cleaning gift certificates, a gift certificate from Remembrance Flower Shop, prints from an artist in Nebraska and more.

Up to 18 teams can sign up for the event and there will also be a dinner for those who just want to attend as spectators. There will be prizes for first, second and third place teams, as well as closest to the pin and longest drive. There will also be door prizes and George is collecting those items, as well.

Although she doesn’t know what kind of turnout to expect, George is hoping that the community will come out and contribute so that her son’s memory will live on in scholarships that help others in the area.

“He was a bright, happy man with big dreams,” George said. “Unfortunately, those big dreams will not happen, but we can go on through the scholarship of Travis. Hopefully, the Weatherford College students can have their dreams come true for us — and Travis.”