Russell Scott Houston

In remembrance of Russell (Russ) Scott Houston, son, brother, uncle, and friend. Russell was born to the late Earla (Key) and Robert Houston on November 6, 1962, in Independence, MO, where he spent most of his life. His childhood was spent simply being a loving son; a great brother to Karen, Nancy, and Joe; and a good friend to many.

It was ironic that Russ was born and raised in Independence, because he was fiercely independent throughout his life! Born with a disability that made him a life-long wheelchair user, Russ strongly wanted to take care of himself, never ask for favors, and not be seen as someone with needs. He fought for that independence throughout his life.

Playing Hot Wheels in the dirt and riding his Big Wheel in the cul-de-sac with neighbors are some of our favorite memories of his childhood. While he didn’t like personal attention, he enjoyed observing family and friends, and took great pleasure in being near the crowd, keenly listening to conversations and soaking everything in. He was always there for the laugh but took in serious matters, too.

Russ enjoyed humor, constantly laughing with others and contributing his own dose of quirky wit. Some of our fondest memories are of young Russ finding something to laugh at during family dinners, making it so infectious that he had the entire table laughing hysterically without any clue as to what or why. His nieces’ and nephews’ best memories are of “goofy” Uncle Russ saying silly things or telling funny stories, making them laugh in amazement and bewilderment, and leaving them (and us) scratching our heads and wondering if there was an element of truth to any of it!

There was no bigger wrestling fan than Russ. He loved professional, WWF-style wrestling (Handsome Harley Race & Hulk Hogan!!). Aside from that, he was a devoted fan of KC sports, always ready with the score and highlights from the most recent Chiefs or Royals game. Russ also had great success as a Special Olympics participant who medaled in many events and loved the camaraderie and competition it provided. Some of his other favorite interests were music, local news, and classic car shows. He was a weather junkie who always knew the forecast and kept us informed and prepared. Additionally, Russ enjoyed a successful 14-year career at Wal-Mart, where he was a coworker and customer favorite.

Most importantly, Russ was a brave, strong, and fearless fighter. While he didn’t have the ability to literally climb mountains, he figuratively climbed mountains throughout his life. His special needs required countless surgeries and medical procedures that would have made the toughest of us squirm. He faced every challenge fearlessly and with a sense of humor, never complaining or expressing pain. We learned so many valuable life lessons from Russ! His ability to overcome challenges without complaint put our day-to-day challenges in perspective and gave us true appreciation for real strength.

We ask all who knew Russ to remember his warm smile, infectious laugh, and kind heart. He truly treasured his family and friends. While his life was too short and full of challenges, Russ enjoyed a life well-lived, full of joy, laughter, bravery, and love.

Our family is extremely grateful to Shriners Children’s Hospital, Special Olympics, and The Whole Person, which were instrumental in enhancing his life. Please feel free to provide a donation to any of these organizations.