Life Stories is an occasional series of memorial tributes that began in November 2004, looking at the lives of people in Greater Memphis -- their hopes, humor, quirks and grit.
 
  
Today's tribute explores a teenager's life that ended in suicide. The Commercial Appeal does not write about most suicides, but we do so today to honor the wishes of a Germantown couple who hope their family's story will prevent a similar tragedy.
They also want readers to know there was so much more to their son's life than the way he died.