ASHLAND — Before astronaut Clayton Anderson departed for the heavens Friday, friends in his hometown turned their thoughts in the direction he was headed.

About 30 members of First Christian Church of Ashland gathered in the church basement to watch space shuttle Atlantis lift off via a Web cast. Anderson attended the red-brick church growing up and his mother, Alice, still teaches Sunday school at First Christian.

Older church members recalled a young Anderson playing piano and organ and singing hymns. Several had children who grew up with him.

“He was an ornery little kid just like any other kid,” said Virginia Wild, who has a son who attended the same class as Anderson.

Before they shared a potluck of scalloped potatoes, baked beans and fruit salad, Pastor Nancy Gillett led them in prayer.

“What an awesome thing,” she said. “These folks have dared to ask the difficult questions, the hows and whys … and they’ve dared to go after the answers.”

They read the names of every crew member and lit candles in their honor.  They will light a candle in Anderson’s honor every Sunday until he returns in five months from the International Space Station.

Eric Vonrentzell brought his wife, Jody, and their two young children to the potluck. He said Anderson’s story contains a powerful message for small-town kids.

“If you set your mind to something, you can create an opportunity for yourself,” he said.

 On the other side of the city of 2,300,  Anderson’s Class of 1977 held an impromptu reunion to watch the launch.

They decked out K.C.’s East Side Saloon in red-white-and-blue bunting. They exchanged hugs, drank beers, snapped digital photos and told stories of their famous classmate.

They described him like everyone in Ashland does — great student, good athlete, talented musician, driven to succeed. And one other thing they mentioned — while his profession may be high altitude, Clay Anderson is still  down-to-earth.

“He’s very devoted to the community,” said Mary Bohn, who organized the event.

Beneath the buzz of excitement, however, many in the room felt a little anxious about the danger of a shuttle launch. A few minutes before liftoff, the crowd quieted. Chuck Niemeyer, a retired teacher who taught Anderson 10th-grade biology, asked everyone to bow their heads.

He asked God to protect the crew during the launch and to be with Anderson as he completes his journey.

Then the bar switched its televisions to KETV Channel 7, which broke into the Wheel of Fortune to show the launch. As the final seconds counted down, the room fell quiet again.

People who have known Anderson all their lives watched their friend safely leave Earth.

They erupted in cheers. Some wiped tears from their cheeks.

“He’s living his dream,” Bohn said as the space ship blasted across the TV screen.

Reach Joe Duggan at 473-7239 or jduggan@journalstar.com.