When my father-in-love was in high school he ran track.  My brother-in-law, Todd, recalls the story Wayne used to tell about when he would race the crowd would yell “Go Homer!”  That was shortened to “Gomer” as he would circle the track and was cheered on to the finish line. Wayne set state records and even earned a four year scholarship to The University of Florida for a whopping $500 for all four years. Although his college and running career ended rather quickly due to feet issues and a bit too much socialization, his ability to run a good race lasted a lifetime.  On Saturday morning, September 28th, 2019, Captain Wayne Homer Shuff ran straight into the arms of Jesus. “Gomer” ran a good race for sure, and now has the greatest reward of all…eternal life with Christ.

You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one runner gets the prize. So run like that. Run to win! All who compete in the games use strict training. They do this so that they can win a prize—one that doesn’t last. But our prize is one that will last forever. So I run like someone who has a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something, not just the air. It is my own body I fight to make it do what I want. I do this so that I won’t miss getting the prize myself after telling others about it.  1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ERV

I’m so grateful for the 35 years Wayne was in my life.  He became a prominent and permanent figure in my life when this 16 year old girl needed someone like Wayne.  Wayne became the godly earthly father figure that I needed as a model in my life. He modeled how to be a spiritual leader in the home, how to love and show respect to a lady, how to have a blast with the family, how to catch saltwater fish, and so many more “how to’s” in life.

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us. Titus 2:7-8 NLT

Mr. Shuff was a man of his word.  I can easily recollect him living out Matthew 5:37 NIV, 

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 

He was a man of trustworthiness and integrity. When Wayne would say he would do something, he did, unless Jany (my late mother-in-love) told/guided/instructed him otherwise.
When Wayne was 49 years of age, he became a grandparent.  Within the next thirteen years, he became G-daddy to two grandsons and three granddaughters. With the eldest now being twenty-three, and the youngest age of ten, Wayne was not only a grandparent yet a teacher.  He would teach his grandbabies lessons in fishing, throwing a cast net, how to make bullets, shoot a gun, hunt for deer, and how to be a gentleman and lady and most importantly a Christ follower. Watching the kids attentively observe how G-daddy would tell them stories and teach life lessons were precious.  Their eyes so full of love and respect for this man in their lives. There was one issue (well, I’m pretty sure there were more…especially if you have Holly share about their many debates they would have) that their eyes were not full of love and respect, but more like a fear that turned into an eye roll of “Come on? Seriously?”  You see, Wayne had those grandbabies convinced that Mole People were real. Yep, you heard that right. Mole people. He would start dramatically telling them about Mole people at their ages of two or three. (That’s when the wide eyes and eye-rolls occurred with us parents.) Finally, when the children were a bit older, G-daddy found and purchased the DVD to the 1956 movie. He was so excited to have his grandbabies with him in front of the television, popcorn in hand, and eyes peered to the screen.  After only a few moments, one-by-one someone would leave the room. That movie was NOT all Wayne talked it up to be. He always was a vivid and creative storyteller. I’m sure the images in their minds from his stories were much more terrifying that the real movie. 

Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; Proverbs 17:6a NLT

Wayne definitely had crowns on his head.  By the time he went home to be with The Lord, G-daddy had six grand glory crowns.  Hunter, Holly, Cole, Kayla, Lindsay, and recently Mackenzie. Mackenzie affectionately called him Wayne-Wayne.  A blessed man. A man who will be greatly missed.
Captain Wayne didn’t only teach his sons and grandchildren about life and Jesus, yet to anyone who he came in contact with. He taught Sunday School for many years.  From youth to middle-aged adults, Wayne would share what he had studied for hours from the Bible. Many legal pad pages were written on as he would prepare his discoveries about God and the lessons He has for us all.
Wayne’s studies and teachings not only took place in the classroom and home, additionally on the boat.  Wayne was a fisher of men. 

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19 KJV

Numerous times I overheard Mr. Shuff casually reference God while relating fishing to how to live for Jesus.  His presentation was always real and relatable. He didn’t over complicate a relationship with Christ. Here are a couple of examples friends have recently said about Captain Wayne:

I am saddened to hear of the loss of a great man. Capt Wayne was a wonderful person who I was blessed to have known. He taught me so much about life, fishing, kindness, patience, family and being a father.

Wayne spent a lot of time helping me teach my son Logan how to catch fish. He selflessly helped my Dad and I learn Tampa Bay. 

I can’t wait to fish with you in heaven Capt Wayne. I love you and your family tremendously and I will miss you. Jeremy Burris (FB post)

Good morning Mr. Wayne. I am praying for you, particularly the pain that you are having to endure right now. My Daddy had the same cancer you did…When I think of you, God brings me back to just months ago when you helped us surprise  Cade with a charter for his birthday. We would see each other in the hall of Sunday school and you would share the tide patterns and check your app to see what it was looking like as it got closer. Steve and I enjoyed that you were in your element and you would eventually share that with Cade. Cade, Hunter and Steve has the most enjoyable time. My Daddy was a hunting and fishing man but he left Earth 20 days before Cade was born. I always prayed that God would place those men in his life to fill in the gaps and show him the love of fishing and hunting and God brought you. You are part of that prayer I prayed. So thank you for saying yes to taking him out on the boat, teaching him and spending time with him…

I’m Christian Love, 

Kelly Shissler

(This was a text sent to Wayne on Thursday morning before his death.)

Wayne did follow Christ, with all his heart.  Instead of always catching snook, trout, redfish, or tarpon, he caught a few men and women for Jesus. You know…one of the many cool things about God is that He doesn’t believe in a “catch and release”.  Once you are in the palm of God’s hand, He’s got you! For good! Oh sure, He will release you out into the world to throw a line out for Him, but He will never let you go on your own. He is always with you, and actually going before you.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT

Yes, God will go before you.  Nothing takes God by surprise.  Speaking of surprise…Wayne’s illness and death was a shocker for us.  The week of August 22nd-26th, Wayne captained four fishing charters on his boat Hey Jude.  Tim looked back at his text messages and read that just on August 29th, his dad was working out at the YMCA. On September 1st, G-daddy went to the ER for pain in his abdomen. September 16th, we discovered he had cancer in the liver. September 25th we met with Dr. Levine at Moffitt for a consultation and more tests.  The morning of September 26th, we learned that Wayne had cancer in his pancreas, lungs, liver, stomach lining, and lymph nodes. In typical Wayne fashion… “Go big or go home”. His pain was unimaginable. Even while on some of the heaviest prescriptions one can be on, his pain level was ever-present and felt by the family. On Saturday, September 28th, Wayne was found lifeless on earth.  Many of you had no idea how my in-law’s passed away. The struggle is definitely real, yet we know that both Jany and Wayne are in heaven, and that we will see them again one day. Their story is a more personal story for another time, but just know that two fine Christians decided (with the help of painkillers and/or inconceivable pain) to take their own lives. Jany and Wayne both believed in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” And in Romans 8:38-39, Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord. They are now eternally with God.  Will there be consequences to their actions? Yes, just like all of us.  This horrific struggle/fact can and will wreak havoc in one’s mind. Satan would love for us to wrestle with the “how” of their deaths daily, but we choose to NOT give the enemy the joy.  There have been glorious moments for God through both of their deaths, and that is what we choose to embrace. Like our dear friend, Kim, informed us of what the Holy Spirit whispered to her, “Forget how he died and remember how he lived.” Beautiful and true!  Wayne may have been found lifeless on earth, but he is overflowing with abundant life on the streets of gold, or possibly on the waters in Heaven on a boat while catching the most incredible fish ever.
If you were able to attend Captain Wayne’s Celebration of Life service, you would have heard my man (Tim) speak with great vulnerability, eloquence, and heart.  I am so proud of Tim and his ability to be bold. Not only bold in sharing his vulnerableness, but his boldness in Christ. Tim touched on the realness of asking “Why?”  He affirmed that we never blame God, but asking those tough questions are natural. It is the “what do it we do about it now”, keeping the right perspective, and how to give God all the glory that we must focus on.  We may not ever understand or get the answers we are searching for, but one day we will be face to face with The Creator and can ask why, or really…it probably won’t even matter at that point. We will all be together in Heaven, and see results we never knew while on earth.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

When I think of Wayne, words circulate in my mind: fun, fisherman, teacher, father, strong, storyteller, respectful, risk-taker, loyal, real, determined, hardworking, avid reader, talented musician, loving, and so much more. 
Fun facts you may or may not know about Wayne:

• Played in a band.  He sang and played the saxophone. 
• Enjoyed playing the guitar.
• Married to Jany for 45 years, until her passing.
• Married to Becky for his last five years of life on earth.
• Worked on a tugboat for one day.  He found out the guy he replaced drowned the day before, so he left without collecting his paycheck.
• While scuba diving, he saw a cannon.  He also noticed a lobster. He went for the lobster, then could never find the cannon again.
• Played tennis with Rosco Tanner, professional tennis player, ranked number 4 in the world in 1979.
• Was in the Boca Grande Guide Association.  Chartered his fishing boat Elvis in those days catching numerous tarpon.
• Member of the Florida Guides Association and CCA.
• Was born in the town where the movie Steel Magnolias was filmed; Natchitoches, Louisiana.
• In high school he played guitar and sang with Reny DeChristian.  They played folk genre…everything Peter Paul & Mary, Kinston Trio, plus he played the intermission at all the high school plays and more.
• His sister remembers Wayne’s endless practice sessions with the guitar and saxophone.  All the music always playing in his room…scattered sheet music.
• He started playing the piano in Baton Rouge.  The sax and guitar in Albany, Plant City, and Haines City.  Nancy is a proud sister of her big brother.
• Wayne worked in grove irrigation and firing the smug pots in the groves during the threat of frost.  He would work all night, then go to school, run track, play in the band, etc. He’s sometimes include Nancy on his adventures, and she was so thrilled to spend time with him.
• He dated Jany’s older sister before he dated little Jany.  Jany even would watch them kiss from the stairs.
• He read almost a book a week.  He probably read all of Tom Clancy, Stephen King, and Randy Wayne White, and a plethora of Christian books.

Wayne wasn’t a perfect man, but he did know The Perfect Man and would direct you to Him:

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

 Wayne’s life isn’t the way to heaven, but he sure knew how to get there:

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NLT

Wayne has many character traits to emulate, but he was not the man to fully imitate:

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV

Wayne would want to tell you what Peter said:

Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 MSG

It is our family’s prayer that through knowing Wayne you will know The Man:

Then Jesus said to his followers, “And who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15-16 ERV

Henry David Thoreau is quoted saying, “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.”  I know Wayne was always hoping to catch the fish desired (and most likely did), but am confident in knowing that he also saw the bigger picture that the time together and memories made are treasures one will cherish for a lifetime. 
I am typing this while on our way to Kentucky to bury part of Wayne’s ashes with Jany. Over the past six days I’ve had to remember that the sun still rises and sets, education and work still continue, garbage still needs taking out, bathrooms still need to be cleaned, etc…you get the point…life here on earth continues.  We are heartbroken that we won’t get to hear our loved one tell anymore stories, or take us fishing, give us sound advice, or taunt us with Mole People narratives any more, yet we (Christians) will be reunited with our brother in Christ again one day.
Until that day…From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. Psalm 113:3 NIV
Like I’ve said to others, “If we didn’t love him so much or have so many amazing memories, it wouldn’t hurt so bad.”  I am grateful for the life Wayne lived, the love he gave, the real life examples he displayed, and the memories he helped be embedded in my mind.  
I pray that you will live each day to its fullest putting a smile on God’s face, love big, laugh a lot, embrace your loved ones, and be the light of Christ that others need to see. Run…run like Wayne did with the goal of heaven in front of him.  He has run the good race and is enjoying the prize. Gomer is now home.
I’ll miss hearing his voice say when I call him, “Hey, daughter in law.” 
Until I see you again, G-daddy…affectionately your daughter-in-law,
Stephanie