Eulogy for KG - Ps Alvin Lee, Riverton Baptist Community Church, Perth.

I wrote this Eulogy while I was in the overnight bus back to Spore yesterday. And my sweet and dear sister Sharon Lee put her talent to good use to do the design.  Get to know this great guy!

Eulogy for KOH GAY – 2 Oct 2017                                                

Good evening family and friends.

Thank you for making the effort to come tonight. Your presence brings much comfort and solidarity in this sad moment. My name is Alvin and like you, our hearts are broken and sorrowful. A very important candle of light has suddenly and unexpectedly been extinguished from our lives.

But we do not gather as a people with no hope because Koh Gay is now safe in the arms of Jesus and we will see Him again one day. Allow me to honour him with a few words that I trust will give you a small snapshot of the great person that he is.

I’ve known Koh Gay since we were 15 yr olds at ACS and one of his nick names was Colgate. I’ve been very privileged to be his friend and his brother these 40 years. KG was my housemate at Uni Oregon for nearly 2 years and staying with him was great fun esp when Simon moved in for a while.

Among our closest friends who are Professors, Bankers and other professionals, we all agree that KG was the smartest among us by a mile. Our townhouse in Eugene OR would often see many students consult KG for complex maths problems. Later in his life, he earned a Masters in Education. 

We took turns to cook and KG would often make delicious meals, though on an inconsistent basis so our meals were never boring. Our friendship also bonded because of our love for bicycles and I often envied him as he had a beautiful white Kuwahara road bike while I had a K Mart special.

Just as I was about to graduate, KG suffered an unfortunate break up with his girl friend whom he met while he was studying in Hawaii. I remembered that day clearly for he took it very badly and refused to come out of his room for several days.

That triggered his life long battle with mental illness and despite this severe handicap, KG fought bravely and served in Eagles Communication as well as in many children organisations like Spore Childrens Society, APSN as a volunteer teacher and social worker. He was also active at Evangel Church and Church of Our Savior, always ready to lend a hand especially in Sunday School. Indeed a true servant of God! KG had an amazing passion for children especially disadvantaged ones. Hence, it was our great joy and honour to Celia and I when he agreed to be Jeremy's Godfather in 1995. KG even flew to Sydney Australia to welcome his new Godson. Such is the loyal, faithful, kind, generous and gentle person he is.

We take comfort that KG always knew he was well loved by us and so many others too and that we knew he loved us as he was not shy to express that often enough. I think that is something we can all learn from him while we still have that opportunity. Tell your family and friends that you love them, and tell them often!

When Jem would come back to Singapore for holidays from his studies, KG would take him out and I appreciated how he nurtured and loved his Godson. When he finished High School, KG bought him a new Bible and advised him to grow not just intellectually but spiritually as well. When Jem graduated in Feb this year as a Physio 4 years later, Godpa’s message was consistent.... 

Congrats Jems.  May you continually be known to be of tenacious steadfastness in all endeavours as your bulwark is GOD the Almighty.

Sounded so much like our late ACS Principal Earnest Lau whose life has imprinted many an ACS boy.

Sadly, KG started to be more and more absent from our social gatherings these last few years as his illness became worse. Yet he always had thoughtful presents for us. Our last meal together was at Chin Chin in April for Chicken Rice with Simon and Daniel and he loved his rice drowned with Chilli. He emailed 3 of us just last week explaining why he cd not come, sought forgiveness and wanting a new start.

I was in Australia then and my last words to him were...

I will call you when Im back. All will be well. Don’t worry. God's desire is for love, forgiveness and friendship to prevail.

Tragically, I did not make that call on time…

Let me close with the last portions of scripture KG shared with Siow Heng, Yoon Yee, Cher Young and I, which perhaps gives us a window into his difficult struggles during his final days...

Psalm 6:6-9  -  I am worn out from my groaning.

All night long I flood my bed with weeping
    and drench my couch with tears.
⁷ My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
    they fail because of all my foes.

⁸ Away from me, all you who do evil,
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
⁹ The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
    the Lord accepts my prayer.

My friends, indeed God has heard KG’s cry for mercy and has accepted his prayer.  And perhaps the Lord’s Word as I meditated last night for us springs from Psalm 4:8

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.

Rest in Peace our dear Brother in the safety and comforting presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We say goodbye for now but we will see you again soon.