TRAVIS RICHARD SUMMERS

TRAVIS RICHARD SUMMERS Travis Richard Summers was born in Downy, California to Thomas and Shirley Summers on August 4, 1973. He died on April 29, 2016 in Richland, Washington. He was 42 years old. He moved to Kennewick with his family in 1978. He graduated from Kamiakin High School in 1992. Travis was an achiever at an early age. When he was 9, he placed first in the Washington State Chess tournament. Going onto Memphis where he placed 56th in the Nation for his age. One of the highlights of his trip was visiting Graceland with his Dad. In 1992 he enlisted in the United States Army. He served for 2 years and was honorably discharged and returned to Washington to be with his family and attend Central Washington University. Travis had many business interests in his short life. He was employed in landcare service in Iowa and Idaho and eventually opened his own company. Travis returned to Tri-Cities in January 2003 to donate a kidney to his dad. The transplant was successful for both of them. His bartending career started in 2003 at the Big Y Tavern, and he moved to Uncle Sam's Saloon when it opened in 2004. In May 2015 he left Uncle Sam's to remodel and open the Gaslight Bar and Grill with his partners Gus and Becky Meyers. The Gaslight enabled Travis to realize his dream of running a bar. Thank you Gus for making this dream come true. Travis was an avid hunter from an early age. One of the joys in his life was passing the skills, knowledge and love of hunting to younger hunters. He loved the New York Yankees and Seahawks. He could recite sports stats from the top of his head, and was stunningly accurate. He also enjoyed boating and 4-wheeling. He is survived by his father Thomas Summers, his mother and step-father Shirley and Danny Gray, sister Sharon Starks (Brian), step-brothers Shawn Gray (Jessica), Danny (Sunee), step-sister Kelly Gray (Catina) and seven nieces and nephews Kylie, Nic, MacKenzie, Ace, Jazlyn, Jordyn and Ava. He is also survived by "family" members Desiree Grant, Melissa Conner, and Martin O'Neal (Nancy). He was preceded in death by the love of his life Hunter Conner, his adopted son in January 2014. As one of his friends put it, "The one thing I can say about Travis that I can't say about anyone else is this. Most people have a best friend and one or two close friends and that's it. Travis is one person that was considered a best friend and a close friend to more people than I ever met. There isn't a church big enough to hold all the people that he has touched or befriended". Viewing will be held on Wednesday, May 4 and Thursday, May 5, 2016 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Mueller's Funeral Home at 10th and Union St. in Kennewick, Washington. Services will be officiated by Pastor Carney Lucas on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at Reata Springs Baptist Church, 2881 Leslie Road, Richland, Washington. A reception will follow at the church. A celebration of his life will be held at the Gaslight Bar and Grill following the reception. His ashes will be spread with his son Hunter at a later date. In honor of Travis and his thoughtfulness for others, donations can be made to the Tri-Cities Union Gospel Mission.