Obituary: Robert Wayne Dockery, 50, of Denton died Tuesday, January 18, 2000, in Baylor Hospital of Dallas. He was born August 31, 1949, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to John and Frances Dockery.

Wayne held a bachelor's degree from Harding University and a master's degree from Louisiana State University. He also attended Abilene Christian University and Austin Presbyterian Seminary where he received the Master of Divinity Degree.

Wayne served as the Education Minister for the Glenwood Church of Christ in Tyler, Texas for 8 years. He was the preaching minister for the Fellowship Church of Christ in Denton for 4 years. He was self-employed in financial services at the time of his death. He was a member of the Singing Oaks Church of Christ in Denton where he served the church in numerous ways, including as an elder for 4 years.

Survivors include his parents of Fayetteville, Arkansas; wife, Roberta Dockery of Denton; two sons, David Wayne Dockery of Lewisville and Joshua Noel Dockery of Denton; sister Janice Lee Dockery Glover of Clarksville, Arkansas; brother David Eugene Dockery of Springfield, Missouri; and maternal grandparents Cloe E. and Jewel Jordan Drain of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Roberta I don't know what more to say to you today than that you loved him well. The mutual respect and love that you had for each other is an example for every marriage. David, I see in you the fierce independence and compassion of your father. Joshua, you have your father's brilliant mind and sense of adventure. So, know that his legacy lives on in you.

One of the difficulties, among the many, that I am having with the loss of my friend Wayne is that in moments like this — when I am struggling to make sense of something that is very hard to understand, trying to find some perspective on how God is at work in our lives — Wayne was always the first person I went to. He had an uncanny ability to help me think outside the box of my preconceptions. It's interesting though that in all of our conversations Wayne never helped me to figure God out. Instead, I always left our discussions with an expanded view of God and with a great sense of wonder about His love.

And so, over the past few days a question that has plagued my mind has been "What would Wayne say to help me make sense of all this?"

I've also spent a lot of time this week thinking about all the great memories that I have of Wayne. While some of those would have to edited for public use there is one story in particular that keeps coming to mind, and last night on the plane, as I was flying into town, I realized that in this story I may have found a clue to the question of what Wayne would say to me today.

It was the first Thursday in December 1998. Wayne had spent most of the summer in the hospital trying to recover from their automobile accident. On this particular night several families, including the Dockery's had gathered at our house for dinner. As we had for a couple of years, we planned to eat and then all go to the Courthouse Square for Denton's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival and Brave Combo concert. About the time we were getting ready to leave one of the worst thunderstorms I can remember blew into the area. I knew it was bad when I stepped outside and the wind turned my expensive golf umbrella inside out. As we all sat in the living room debating whether or not to go back out someone noticed that Wayne was gone. While we were fretting about the weather, wondering if the storm was going to move on through town, Wayne had set off on his own, marching into a monsoon in those old worn out hiking boots, throwing that dropped foot out in front of every step. We found him at the concert doing the "Chicken Dance" and splashing in the puddles, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was in the middle of a small hurricane.

You see the one perspective toward life that Wayne disliked the most was fear. He believed with passion that God is a God that can be trusted. And so, in his personal relationship he was never afraid to be honest, nor was he afraid of others being honest with him. He believed that God could be trusted to lead and care for the church, and so, in times of turmoil he never panicked. Wayne even believed that God could be trusted in times of suffering, and with more faith and confidence in God than I have ever witnessed he was not afraid of his illness.

I think that if Wayne could counsel me today he would start by peering out over those bifocals and saying, "Jaaaack, lighten up!" And, I think that in the memory of Wayne launching off on his own into the storm he may be inviting me once again to an expanded view of a God who can be trusted and because he can be trusted there is no need to fear the future, there is no need to fear even the valley of the shadow of death. I hope you won't find this trivial but I like to think, that in a sense, Wayne has launched out on his own again, knowing that those of us who are paralyzed by our fear will eventually follow. And, knowing that real joy and blessings await those who trust their God and refuse to be afraid in this world.