They saw the face of their brother Michael McKinney one lasttime -- resting in a casket, wearing a Notre Dame sweatshirt.
Guns and Roses' rendition of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" playedacross the flower-flooded funeral home as members of Delta Chi, aswell as other Ball State students, stood in the rain waiting to saygoodbye to their friend.
"Whenever you saw Mike smile, you couldn't help but smile too,"McKinney's friend Sean Slain said.
After leaving the crowded viewing in McKinney's home town ofBedford, Delta Chi members and friends drove through pouring rainand lightning-streaked skies to a house on Lake Monroe.
One blue pick-up truck had the words "R.I.P. Mike 11-08-03"taped on the back window.
"Basically with this situation you need to get everyone togetherand become one again as a fraternity," Slain said. Slain's parentslet him borrow the lake house Tuesday night so everyone could rideto McKinney's funeral together on Wednesday morning.
The fraternity was suspended by the university earlier thisyear.
"This is a sign of integrity for the Greek system," junior JimCampbell said. "The bond still stands and you still care about yourbrother."
Before the line of cars headed to Bedford on Tuesday night,members of Delta Chi collected some of McKinney's belongings togive to his family.
Some of his personal items included two pairs of aviatorglasses, a Delta Chi sweatshirt, his cologne and a picture ofMcKinney with his old dog named Speckles.
"The important things that meant a lot to him, we wanted to giveto (McKinney's parents)," Campbell said as he delicately folded theDelta Chi
sweatshirt.
After the viewing, members of Delta Chi relived the antics ofMcKinney over drinks, card games, smokes and one of McKinney'ssignature habits -- chewing tobacco.
Some of the members hadn't seen each other in years. But no onewould have known by the instant cohesion seen as they reflected onwho Mike McKinney was and what he meant to them.
Members of Delta Chi laughed, cried, fought tears and performedimitations of McKinney.
Senior Scott Clark said McKinney bought everyone's Christmasgifts at the beginning of October.
"He would do anything for anyone," senior Rich Lentz said.
Besides being a fan of Notre Dame, McKinney was also aCincinnati Reds fan.
Sophomore Scott Stars recalled a time when McKinney and otherDelta Chi members went to a Cubs and Reds game in Cincinnatiearlier this year.
"McKinney was heckling the Cubs fans," Stars said. "It wasreally funny."
Junior Pat Edger said McKinney acted as the middle man when heand another member disagreed. Edger said after McKinney died, heand the other member talked for the first time in months.
"(McKinney) has a really sensitive side too," Edger said.
His friends also reminisced about McKinney's dedication to hisHalloween costume. McKinney shaved his head to look like GeorgeCostanza from Seinfeld.
Junior Mike Stumpe yelled out over the group, "Can't standya!"
Friends of McKinney laughed about the time they went to theBahamas.
The group of friends fought excitedly over the rap music toclaim the exact line McKinney would use on the beaches to make funof his short and pale figure.
Throughout all of the memories shared between the group, onetheme was common.
"The reason we are here now is to celebrate his life," sophomoreKyle Hayes said. "(McKinney) wouldn't have wanted it any otherway."
BURYING A BROTHER
Those sitting in the crowded pews under the tall vanilla ceilingof St. Vincent De Paul Church mostly had college-aged faces, withDelta Chis sprinkled among the mourners. A few were crying. A fewwere sitting in disbelief. And a few were the pallbearers.
McKinney's fraternity brothers watched patiently as he, who theysaid had "an amazing laugh," was carried slowly past them.
The ears of Delta Chis perked up as they heard Katie McKinney,Michael McKinney's sister, speak.
"We need you to tell the world that he was a good boy," KatieMcKinney said in a strangled voice.
Once the memorial was over, Delta Chi members walked slowlythrough the walnut door entrance and into the gray skies.
In an unspoken agreement, the brothers walked together in smallgroups toward the cemetery.
The Delta Chis were watched by elementary school students asthey passed McKinney's grade school St. Vincent De Paul CatholicChurch. The markee read, "Mikey, We'll miss you."
Walking silently, dressed in suits and ties, Delta Chis walkeddown the black-top pavement that bordered the hundreds of gravesresting on leaf-littered rolling hills. They could see a bluecanopy next to a large oak tree in the distance.
McKinney's family waited patiently for those who knew their sonas a friend.
Senior Scott Clark began to hand out white carnations, the DeltaChi flower, to fellow members.
The fraternity, surrounded by others who loved McKinney, stoodin silence as they listened to the final farewells.
Members slowly began to form a single-file line leading toMcKinney.
One by one the Delta Chi brothers set their carnations on top ofthe wooden casket while lightly touching its surface.
The sun was now shining through the clouds.
As the line of 40 or so members passed, each member was greetedwith a warm embrace from a brother.
Almost instinctively, a wreath of brothers holding hands tookshape around the brother who "could make anyone laugh."
Members with tear-stained faces sang the praise of the "dear oldDelta Chi."
After the tribute, McKinney's family began to leave.
"Thank all of you," Tim McKinney, Michael McKinney's father,said. "God Bless all of you."
Members trickled away from the grave site slowly, making jokesand trying to keep each other's spirits high. Some began to chewtobacco.
A caretaker dressed in overalls approached the scene to lowerthe golden vault into the ground.
Several Delta Chi members waited to see him lowered.
As the caretaker began to shut the vault, Ball State alumnus andDelta Chi member Ben Brooks asked him to stop.
He reached his hand delicately into the two-inch vaultopening.
"I'll miss you," Brooks said. "You were a great friend. I loveyou."
As they said their final good-byes, Campbell walked away fromthe small group to gather a handful of dirt and sprinkled it intohis friend's grave.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
