Organ donor quilt to be on display Saturday

By Rusty Murry

Nevada Daily Mail

Ever since Kelly Masters was killed in a car wreck, his mother, Vesta Cole, has been trying to keep his memory alive by doing something Masters would have done himself. Before Masters was killed in December of 2008, he was very active in the youth group of his church.

His mother continues to help the local youth groups. First, she donated $1,000 of his insurance money, and then another $200. Now Cole is planning a large benefit sale and all of the proceeds will go to help children involved in their church's youth groups.

And there is another unique twist to this sale --Masters was a tissue donor, and his memory has been honored on a donor's quilt. The quilt is one of nine quilts recognizing donors that have been put together by Midwest Transplant Network. Quilt No. 9, which bears a picture of Masters, will be on display.

By all accounts the 20 year-old Masters was a kind and generous young man when he was killed north of Kansas City. He graduated from the Nevada High School and was very involved in the youth group in the Deerfield church he attended.

His mother has tried to carry on his generosity by giving all her donations to Pastor Mark Mitchell. Mitchell said, "Kelly was like a son to me," he was best friends with my son. Mitchell has made good use of the money given to him by Cole.

He took a large group of youngsters canoeing and he has also taken them bowling. He tries to keep a little of the money on hand to help a family in need, but the money is mostly used for the kids. "Kelly was very caring and giving," Cole said.

Not only did the young man donate both of the corneas of his eyes, but he also donated some ligaments. He had signed the donor portion on his driver's license, but his organs couldn't be used because he was dead at the scene, Cole said.

This benefit sale will begin at 8 a.m., on Saturday, July 10. It will continue until all items are sold or late into the afternoon. The address is 428 West Hunter Street, Nevada. Look for signs on the corners and a large banner announcing the exact location of the sale.