Man's Ashes Are Traveling the Sea in a Glass Bottle as His Final Adventure

A message in a bottle washed up on a beach in Texas carrying the ashes of a man who was a beloved dad and son.

Sgt. Paula Pendleton was on the beach in Walton County, Texas, when she noticed the glass bottle and took out the note inside, which read: “This bottle contains the ashes of my son, Brian, who suddenly and unexpectedly passed on March 9, 2019. I’m sending him on one last adventure.”

The bottle had set sail from Destin, Florida, on Aug. 1. Not only was there a note inside from Brian’s mom but also from his daughter, who was 14 years old when he passed away.

The senders asked for anyone who found the bottle to contact them at the phone numbers they listed on the notes enclosed and then send Brian on his way again.

Pendleton said she is not unfamiliar with loss herself. She lost her husband, who was 50, suddenly in 2018. 

“He died with me at home,” said Pendleton. “It was all very sudden.”

The deputy reached out to the family in a text message, letting them know she found the bottle.

“I am putting the note back into the bottle with Brian’s ashes and delivering it to a friend who is a charter boat captain,” Pendleton said she wrote. “He has offered to bring Brian way out into the Gulf so he can continue his adventure. But, before that, I want you to know he got to do a ride-along with a deputy before drifting out once again.”

She plans to send Brian’s ashes off early in September.

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