During his regular phone call from Afghanistan to his parents last Sunday, Master Sgt. Arthur Lilley told them not to worry.

	Master Sgt. Arthur L. Lilley

His mother, Elizabeth, and his father, Arthur F., of Smithfield, Fayette County, got to talk with him during the half-hour call.

Mrs. Lilley said her son said "things were going good. It was going to get to be a busy time and if he didn't get to talk for us for a few days, not to worry. He would be OK."

Days later, Sgt. Lilley was dead.

He died Friday in Shkin, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered from enemy small-arms fire. Sgt. Lilley, 35, was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom as a member of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group based in Fort Bragg, N.C.

"He was living his dream," his mother said yesterday.

Ever since junior high, Sgt. Lilley had wanted to serve in the military.

"It was just something he wanted to do. He loved it. He lived for it," his mother said.

He graduated from Tri-Valley High School, now Albert Gallatin, in 1990 and joined the military. By the time he was 18, he had served in Saudi Arabia.

His soon-to-be-wife, Christine, was one year behind him in high school, and they married after she graduated. They would have celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary in August. They lived in Spring Lake, N.C.

The couple have two children, Mackenzie, 9, and Cole, 7.

"His children idolized him," said his mother.

She said her son liked to go to the park, the movies or just play with them.

He loved driving off-road vehicles -- particularly his Suzuki Samurai -- and at one time owned three vehicles, including one he built himself.

He also was a youth minister at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, N.C., where he worked with teenagers.

Sgt. Lilley started in the Army in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), serving in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He transferred to the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade at Camp Ederle, Italy, in 1992. In 1995, he volunteered for special forces.

In 2000, he was assigned to the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion at Fort Bragg, N.C., where he rose to the rank of first sergeant.

In 2005, he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th SFG where he served as a team sergeant until his death.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Joint Service Achievement Medal.

A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. today at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church in Fayetteville.

Local arrangements, which are incomplete, are being handled by the Dean C. Whitmarsh Funeral Home in Fairchance, Fayette County.