WILMINGTON — Dallas Register Vetter, 54, of Wilmington, North Carolina, went to his rest in the faithful arms of God at approximately 11:30 a.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, at Lower Cape Fear Hospice, in Wilmington, surrounded by his beloved husband and family, completing his part in a heroic battle with ALS.
He was born Aug. 5, 1962, in Kinston, North Carolina, to parents, Vernon and Hattie Register, and raised in Turkey, North Carolina. He relocated to Wilmington mid-1989 to join his husband to be, Stephen Vetter. Dallas and Stephen were joined in Holy Union, September 24, 1995, and then legally married March 11, 2013, spending 27 wonderful years together.
He spent his professional life as a career florist, known as among the finest in Wilmington. He was heartwarmingly outgoing and at the center of several social groups and extended friendships. He loved to sing, possessing a gentle tenor voice, and especially loved to sing in his church choir.
For many years, he was in significant leadership at St. Jude Metropolitan Community Church in Wilmington. He then helped found the faith group, The Conversation, which merged with Gregory Congregational United Church of Christ. During his near year-and-a-half battle with ALS, he was a constant source of hope and encouragement to all who knew him, writing near daily messages of hope read by hundreds on his Facebook page, most of that time via eye movement on a virtual computer keyboard.
He is survived by his husband, Stephen Vetter of Wilmington; his brother, Travis Register, and nephew, Aaron Register of Fayetteville; many other nieces and nephews; and his chosen brothers, John Williams-Wyant and Ronnie Wyant of Wilmington.
Dallas wished to convey his deepest love and gratitude to all of his family and extended faith family for being part of regular caregiving and visits over the past year and a half, and to leave the following exhortation to all of us: “Live your life to the full, in complete honesty and authenticity, because you never know when it might be cut short. None of us are promised tomorrow in this physical realm.”
A service to celebrate his life will be held Saturday, Oct. 1, at 2 p.m., at Wilmington Funeral and Cremation Chapel, Wilmington, North Carolina, by Eulogist, Rev. Gregory McCaw of Wilmington. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m.
His request was that no dark colors are worn, only bright, colorful attire.
In lieu of flowers, memorials made to the ALS Association, or to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, in honor of Dallas Register Vetter would be greatly appreciated.
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