Oklahoma - Fall 2024

Loving, adventurous, creative, loved nature Andrew was a smart, outgoing, talented young man who enjoyed playing video games with his friends and spending time with his family. At first glance, he seems to fit the description of many boys his age. However, getting to know Andrew’s story, hearing of his kindness and creativity, and allowing his humanness and giving spirit to flow over us, we realize what made him special. We also see how this young man’s potential only began to blossom when his life was tragically cut short.[...]

Protective, loyal, adventurous, reliable, hilarious Will is a twin. He was born 30 seconds before his sister, Thea, as he would often remind everyone. He comes from a family of six siblings, but specially adored his baby brother, Max, who was only 13 when Will passed away. Max has ADHD and Will was very patient and protective of him. He would talk to Max about school and listen to him when he was having off days. Will also had nieces and nephews who he absolutely adored. He was never too old to be found alongside the kids at Chuckie Cheese, or sitting at the kids table at get-togethers. More than anything, he never missed an opportunity to tell each of them how much he loved them.[...]

Loving, generous, loud, engaging, doer Michael was personable, energetic, loud, and engaging with the heart of a servant. He loved the outdoors, animals and was passionate about his dog, Mollie. He loved spending time with family and played various sports. Michael especially liked competing with his older brothers, Thomas, and Stephen, at tennis and golf. Michael was born in Quito, Ecuador because his father worked for an energy company there. This gave him dual citizenship and a strong tie to Ecuador. In 2010, Michael visited his birthplace, spending time with his godparents and their families. [...]

Loving, creative, talented, beautiful Kati was a brilliant child, who her mother says was full grown by the age of two. She had a heart-warming smile and was truly a sight to behold, with a laugh that was joyous as bells. Being a chorus kid, she loved to sing and did a cappella at her church every week. She was very talented and loved to crochet, draw and paint.[...]

Caring, loving, tenderhearted, amazing Cole was just 18 when he lost his life to fentanyl poisoning. He left behind his sister Ella, little brother Seth, mother Rebekah, stepfather John Purcell, and grandparents Randy and Linda Huffman.[...]

Loving, caring, outgoing and big-hearted Bailey Rae-Lynn Cooper loved life. With big blue eyes and a huge heart of gold, she grew up a daddy’s girl. She loved to be outdoors, going hunting and fishing, and searching for arrowheads when she got older. Bailey loved animals and had many pets growing up, giving them all names that started with a B, like Bubba Kitty and Ben for a pot-bellied pig. [...]

Loyal, carefree, unapologetic, fun loving, adventurous Described by his mother, Candace, as her “crazy, wild child,” Dylan showed up for his friends and family, day or night, offering a smile, and often a story. “Dylan was never afraid to do anything,” Candace said. “Don’t ever dare him because he would do it.” Though Dylan’s appearance with a beard, tattoos, a mullet, and an old bush hat portrayed a hard outer shell, he had a soft side to him, especially in making people feel worthy and cared for.[...]

Passionate, adventurous, goofy, loving man Keelan was not just a man with a big heart; he was a beacon of love, passion, and adventure. Known for his infectious laughter and buoyant smile, Keelan embraced life with a spirit of generosity. Whether it was offering the shirt off his back or his last dollar, he lived to lift others up. His proudest achievement was his son, KJ, who was the center of his world.[...]

Compassionate, wickedly humorous, spontaneous, loving, gentle As an only child, Brandon constantly sought friendship. With his broad smile and compassionate nature, he was never short of company. He and most of his friends bonded over their shared love for sports and music. They went from playing YMCA basketball to varsity ball together, from attending concerts to forming their own band. [...]

My sunshine, a gift from above Cade was a serious soul with a protective nature, and often assumed the role of ‘bodyguard’ for his siblings, his Nana, and everyone else he loved. Their joy was his joy; their pain was his, too. He would beam with pride at his baby brother Joel’s piano skills—even if he did not enjoy it when anyone else played. However, if any of his sister Carson’s ex-boyfriends made her cry, Cade was intent on making them regret it. He was perhaps most relaxed around his brother Wes, his best friend, wrestling partner, gaming buddy, and football teammate. [...]

Loyal, funny, fun, great sibling, protective, creative, teacher “She had a way of making people love her,” Shelby’s mother, Linda, stated. She welcomed anyone and everyone to be her friend, and kept them. Shelby especially loved kids and older people. She was always in touch with her maternal grandmother, “Honey” even through her addiction. The name Honey came about because Shelby’s grandfather called his wife Honey and Shelby picked it up. [...]

Too bright, too fast, special Comparing someone to the sun might seem a bit cliche—until you met Cassie. Radiant in both appearance and humor, she had her own gravitational pull that was impossible to resist. If you weren’t immediately drawn towards her perfect cat-eye makeup and impeccable fashion sense, you would be drawn to her charisma. She had a firm sense of self, unbothered by other people’s opinions but respectful of their feelings. Once, while running a 5K with her older sister Caitlin, Cassie’s shoes began bothering her. She ripped them off and finished the race barefoot, not caring what anyone else thought. The running wasn’t important to her, anyway. She just wanted to eat the celebratory dinner with her sister.[...]

Megan was here!! Megan grew up a tomboy, but seemed to transform into a butterfly overnight. She loved fishing, four-wheeling and makeup. Once she fell asleep in a mimosa tree, sleeping soundly for 30 minutes until her mother, afraid she’d fall out, woke her up.[...]

Loving, silly, spiritual, determined, helpful, never judgmental Described as a “brown eyed beauty with brown fuzzy hair and the biggest smile that brightened any room,” by his mother, Delana, Gavin was a good kid. He participated in Boy Scouts and loved baseball and soccer. A talented artist, he won many awards. [...]

A bright light put out too soon. Caleb came into the world as a surprise, since his mother didn't tell anyone except his dad that she was pregnant; when he left this world, he surprised everyone again.[...]

Loving, giving, friendly, polite, easy to love One of five sons, Cyrus, known as TT, was goofy, giving and loving. He loved a muddy ride on his 4-wheeler and working on his Chevy 3500 truck, “The Beast,” while listening to 90s hip hop. A good athlete, he played football and baseball. As center for his high school football team, Cyrus helped lead his team to the playoffs for the first time in over ten years. [...]

Goofy, big-hearted, sensitive, poetic, true friend Rhett was a goofball, with a bright smile and an infectious laugh. He especially loved to tease his older sister, Amanda, and younger sister, Jaleigh. He got a kick out of riling them up, only to break character with a grin, chuckle, and embrace, reassuring them it was all a joke. [...]

Loving, funny, family, kids. Mama’s boy forever Aaron was funny, good looking, loving and sensitive, with a charismatic personality. Very athletic, he was good at any sport. He loved playing basketball, football, and soccer. Aaron also enjoyed a good game of pool. He was a jokester, always playing with people and making them laugh. Most of his time was spent with his kids and family.[...]

Jordan made us all better people Jordan’s mother, Amy, misses “the way Jordan held my hand long into her twenties.” Jordan’s family called her “Lil Bit” because she was “a little bit of the best of all of them.” During high school, when her older sister was pregnant and swollen feet meant she could not wear heels to prom, Jordan traded her own heels for a pair of Nikes. Jordan ensured her sister wouldn’t feel alone or out of place, and that they could stand out together. [...]

Always struggling to be better Chris Prince was a beloved son, brother, and cousin, and a very good dad. As a boy, he was a little mischievous, always into something; but he had a tender heart as well, especially for cats. He loved all animals, even defending slugs his cousin wanted to squish.[...]

Loving, kindness, full of fire “Charity embodied the essence of fire and music in human form. Her spirit was unparalleled, brimming with boundless joy, passion, and dreams. As a dancer, singer, and fire spinner, she moved with a grace that seemed enchanted by the music itself,” her sister, Courtney, remembers. Charity was endlessly talented. Whether fire spinning, swinging poi, or singing, she moved with music in her soul. She danced in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade twice as a teen and competed nationally in dance and pom in high school, even qualifying in elementary school. Later, Charity got an associate’s degree. [...]

Artistic, gregarious, charismatic, adventurous, generous, soulful Hakuna Matata was his life motto. The epitome of love and light, Caleb was the middle child of a close-knit family, between his older sister, Sarah, and younger sister, Lindsey. They were close as siblings, and also genuine best friends. Caleb was known for his warm, genuine hugs and his wisdom. His laugh and beautiful, crooked smile were infectious. “He always told you what you needed to hear,” his family stated. He was very honest with people, in a way that came from his love for them. Caleb’s presence was strong, his absence is even stronger. [...]

So much life to live, stolen too soon The fourth born of five children, Jillian learned to do everything early, from walking at nine months to riding a two-wheeler at four. “She was always surprising us,” her mother, Diane, said. Beautiful and funny, Jillian commanded attention when she arrived in a room. She loved her family and her dogs and was an incredible friend to those who knew and loved her. Jillian had an amazing singing voice, but because she was shy, only some people ever heard it. She was also a natural at most sports and loved golf as she got older. [...]

Behind my beauty is pain. Deandra Solis had a heart of gold and a smile that would light up a room. If you were down on your luck and needed some help, she was there. She was a loyal friend, daughter, and sister, but her younger brothers, Isaac, and Justus, were who she lived for.[...]

Joseph, dearly loved, and forever missed. Always the jokester, Joseph was funny, kind and outgoing. He had a loving family, and loads of friends who appreciated the help he offered, his infectious smile, and adorable laugh. He could be found exercising, lifting weights, hunting, boating, enjoying lake life and the sun.[...]

Creative, caring, thoughtful person A half-German, half-Osage and Kaw Tribe Native American from Oklahoma, Jon was thoughtful, caring and generous with a great sense of humor. His bright smile, long, luxurious Indian hair, and sweet persona reflected his laid-back attitude. He had a light about him. “A charming personality, he could turn a bad day into laughter,” his mom, Charla, recounted. Jon lived life to the fullest, expressing himself through art, journaling, and helping others. He valued people. His selfless and generous spirit enabled him to discover opportunity everywhere, whether it was washing the dishes, babysitting for friends, playing with his dog, or providing for the unhoused.[...]

Beautiful, caring, loyal, dedicated, loving Meagan was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was a bright, beautiful person, her mother’s best friend, only child, and her world. “We were very close,” Michelle stated. “She had the biggest heart for helping other people and animals and the most contagious smile and laugh.” She grew up in a happy family and had a fun life. Meagan was close to her step-father, Mark, who was in her life since she was two, and was her coach for many years.[...]

He did it his way. “Charley had an amazing ability to make you smile and had more love in his heart than anyone I ever met. If you were blessed to be loved by him, you knew you were loved,” Charley’s mom, Amber stated. [...]

Energetic, loving, short, adventurous, creative. Mia, named Amelia, after Amelia Earhart, lived up to her name. She was a beautiful, strong, and talented young woman. She was a naturally creative person who enjoyed playing her violin, coloring, painting, drawing, writing stories, and building puzzles. Mia was kindhearted and loved her family and friends, and especially enjoyed picking on her stepdad, Skye Druce, who was her favorite person. Sometimes, Mia's mother, April, and stepfather, Skye, still feel her presence, usually through her music playing or unexplained incidents like Skye falling from his chair.[...]