KELLI CHRISTINE HALTERMAN
Nov. 10, 1990 — Nov. 17, 2008
Kelli Christine Halterman came into this world prematurely on November 10, 1990, as a precious angel. She left much too early, at age 18, in a tragic car accident on November 17, 2008, only seven days after celebrating her 18th birthday.
It is with unbelievable sadness and great sorrow that Kelli's family and friends find themselves describing a life so prematurely ended, but yet, so cherished. Kelli lived every moment of her short life to the fullest. She had a smile on her face and was always looking for excitement. She was a cheerleader at Perry Schools from grades 7-10. She competed nationally for two years with American Elite Allstars, being part of placing 10th in the world at a competition in Orlando, Fla., in 2007. Kelli was competitive by nature in all she did and challenged everything and everyone. Her bright spirit, beautiful eyes, and red hair melted the hearts of her mom, dad, brothers and so many others. She adored her nieces, Isabella, Chloe and Faith and nephew Benjamin.
Two of her greatest wishes were to have a silver cougar, which she received for her 16th birthday from her mom and dad, and her very own puppy. For her 18th birthday, her dad got her that little black puppy that she affectionately named Jasmine. God must have needed her free spirit and beautiful smile in heaven because there is no other explanation why she was taken away so young.
Kelli's family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to a very special "mom" and woman, Melanie Dye. Melanie was the first person to respond to Kelli's accident. She called 911, held her hand, touched her face, talked with her and provided reassurance until medics arrived. There is a certain kind of peace in knowing our daughter and sister was not alone and was with such a kind person in her last moments on earth.
In keeping with Kelli's wishes, she was able to donate organs to LifeBanc, which exemplifies her spirit of generosity. Kelli's spirit will be with so many forever and ever. She will always be the angel of her family's lives and will only be missed temporarily until they can all be with her in heaven.
Kelli was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Betty and Robert Harriman, and paternal grandfather, James Halterman. She is survived by her mom and dad, Holly and Bob; brothers, Todd, Trevor (Elisa) Ferguson; grandmother, Nancy Halterman; nieces and nephew, Isabella, Benjamin, Faith and Chloe Ferguson; her puppy, Jasmine; special friends, Megan H., Makenna, Megan N., and Josh, as well as numerous other friends and relatives.
Source: Reed Funeral Home, Canton, Ohio.
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Published by IndeOnline.com on Wednesday, November 19, 2008:
TRAGEDY STRIKES TWICE
by Matthew Rink
She always wore sweat pants, a hooded sweatshirt, big hoop earrings and — when she could get away with it — tongue and nose rings.
The redhead would drop everything to help someone else. And she packed more fun into 18 years than most do in a lifetime.
Teachers and classmates mourned the death of Kelli Halterman, a Perry High senior, on Tuesday.
"She was very caring," said classmate Britny Jobes. "She would do anything for anyone at the drop of a dime."
"She was the most energized person you'd ever meet," added Alexis McElroy.
Halterman, of 4930 Quincy St. N.W., was killed Monday in a traffic accident at Perry Drive and Brunnerdale Avenue Northwest in Jackson Township.
She was only a few miles from home when she lost control of her 1999 Mercury Cougar, slid off the left side of the roadway and struck a Dodge Ram driven by Joseph Leeson, 39, of 2358 Beechmore Drive N.W.
"There was a lot of snow at the time, and visibility was difficult," Jackson Township Police Chief Harley Neftzer said. "The roads had become wet and slippery."
Halterman was not wearing a seatbelt. She was pronounced dead at Mercy Medical Center at 4:52 p.m. Monday. Leeson was treated in Mercy Medical for minor injuries.
ANOTHER LOSS
Halterman was enrolled in Perry High's diversified health occupations (DHO) program, which trains high school students in the health care field. It's a tight-knit group and the absence of Halterman on Tuesday only made it tighter.
The former cheerleader and softball player attended Perry schools her entire life, starting with Reedurban Elementary. She hoped to become a nurse after high school, but had no concrete plans on where to continue her education.
Halterman worked in Mercy Medical Center's dietary department, just one of the stops on her clinical rotation for school.
"She really wanted to go on into nursing," said Joanna Gartner, Perry's DHO program coordinator. "She liked kids. She was worried about going on, how she was going to make the transition. But she was wonderful at what she did. She was very hands-on."
Tracy Schlup, spokesperson for the Perry Local School District, said counselors and administrators are organizing a crisis team to assist students and staff.
"It's got to be impossible for some of them," Schlup said of the tragedy. "Since Kelli has gone here since kindergarten, it's got to be tough."
Schlup said another student, junior Sara Samblanet, was hospitalized following a separate accident on Monday. Samblanet slid off of Kemary Road in Richville. She suffered several injuries, including a laceration to her spleen.
Halterman's death comes not even two months after students and staff at Perry High mourned the tragic death of teacher Jack Leeder, 40, who was killed in a traffic accident in Kidron in Wayne County on Sept. 27.
For the diversified health occupations, Leeder's death, like Halterman's, was especially hard.
Leeder would donate his time to the class, acting as its test patient on occasion.
"This class, this school, this year has had more tragedies," said Gartner, referring to the loss of Halterman, Leeder and the deaths of four teachers' parents. "We barely get over one death and something else happens. We're glad we have each other."
"We kept saying, 'What's going to happen next? What's going to happen next?'" said Chelsea Santarelli, a friend of Halterman who knew Leeder from his time in the class.
REMEMBERED
Classmates set up a memorial to Halterman in the Perry High lobby. A candle burned next to four pictures of the teen, which all showed her smiling from cheek to cheek.
"You were like family to not only me, but all of us in DHO," student Mackenzie Bisset wrote on a red piece of construction paper that rested near the display. "Nothing is going to be the same without you girl! I'm gonna miss you and I'll see you again some day. I love you."
Another card read, "Our friend, our sister. You'll be missed."
Halterman had two brothers and a stepsister, according to friends. She considered her mother, Holly Halterman, her best friend. That's something she made known to her teen peers frequently.
"I never knew Kelli until my junior year," said Jobes as she burst into tears. "It's so weird without her here. I'm so used to her coming up to my chair. She became one of my best friends."
"It's hard to picture (this happening) to someone so close to you," classmate Kayla Montague said.
Gartner was proud of her student and friend and said her seat in class will not be occupied the rest of the school year.
"She was a lot of fun," Gartner said. "She was the kind of kid that even if you're mad at her, she makes you laugh."
Nov. 10, 1990 — Nov. 17, 2008
Kelli Christine Halterman came into this world prematurely on November 10, 1990, as a precious angel. She left much too early, at age 18, in a tragic car accident on November 17, 2008, only seven days after celebrating her 18th birthday.
It is with unbelievable sadness and great sorrow that Kelli's family and friends find themselves describing a life so prematurely ended, but yet, so cherished. Kelli lived every moment of her short life to the fullest. She had a smile on her face and was always looking for excitement. She was a cheerleader at Perry Schools from grades 7-10. She competed nationally for two years with American Elite Allstars, being part of placing 10th in the world at a competition in Orlando, Fla., in 2007. Kelli was competitive by nature in all she did and challenged everything and everyone. Her bright spirit, beautiful eyes, and red hair melted the hearts of her mom, dad, brothers and so many others. She adored her nieces, Isabella, Chloe and Faith and nephew Benjamin.
Two of her greatest wishes were to have a silver cougar, which she received for her 16th birthday from her mom and dad, and her very own puppy. For her 18th birthday, her dad got her that little black puppy that she affectionately named Jasmine. God must have needed her free spirit and beautiful smile in heaven because there is no other explanation why she was taken away so young.
Kelli's family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to a very special "mom" and woman, Melanie Dye. Melanie was the first person to respond to Kelli's accident. She called 911, held her hand, touched her face, talked with her and provided reassurance until medics arrived. There is a certain kind of peace in knowing our daughter and sister was not alone and was with such a kind person in her last moments on earth.
In keeping with Kelli's wishes, she was able to donate organs to LifeBanc, which exemplifies her spirit of generosity. Kelli's spirit will be with so many forever and ever. She will always be the angel of her family's lives and will only be missed temporarily until they can all be with her in heaven.
Kelli was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Betty and Robert Harriman, and paternal grandfather, James Halterman. She is survived by her mom and dad, Holly and Bob; brothers, Todd, Trevor (Elisa) Ferguson; grandmother, Nancy Halterman; nieces and nephew, Isabella, Benjamin, Faith and Chloe Ferguson; her puppy, Jasmine; special friends, Megan H., Makenna, Megan N., and Josh, as well as numerous other friends and relatives.
Source: Reed Funeral Home, Canton, Ohio.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Published by IndeOnline.com on Wednesday, November 19, 2008:
TRAGEDY STRIKES TWICE
by Matthew Rink
She always wore sweat pants, a hooded sweatshirt, big hoop earrings and — when she could get away with it — tongue and nose rings.
The redhead would drop everything to help someone else. And she packed more fun into 18 years than most do in a lifetime.
Teachers and classmates mourned the death of Kelli Halterman, a Perry High senior, on Tuesday.
"She was very caring," said classmate Britny Jobes. "She would do anything for anyone at the drop of a dime."
"She was the most energized person you'd ever meet," added Alexis McElroy.
Halterman, of 4930 Quincy St. N.W., was killed Monday in a traffic accident at Perry Drive and Brunnerdale Avenue Northwest in Jackson Township.
She was only a few miles from home when she lost control of her 1999 Mercury Cougar, slid off the left side of the roadway and struck a Dodge Ram driven by Joseph Leeson, 39, of 2358 Beechmore Drive N.W.
"There was a lot of snow at the time, and visibility was difficult," Jackson Township Police Chief Harley Neftzer said. "The roads had become wet and slippery."
Halterman was not wearing a seatbelt. She was pronounced dead at Mercy Medical Center at 4:52 p.m. Monday. Leeson was treated in Mercy Medical for minor injuries.
ANOTHER LOSS
Halterman was enrolled in Perry High's diversified health occupations (DHO) program, which trains high school students in the health care field. It's a tight-knit group and the absence of Halterman on Tuesday only made it tighter.
The former cheerleader and softball player attended Perry schools her entire life, starting with Reedurban Elementary. She hoped to become a nurse after high school, but had no concrete plans on where to continue her education.
Halterman worked in Mercy Medical Center's dietary department, just one of the stops on her clinical rotation for school.
"She really wanted to go on into nursing," said Joanna Gartner, Perry's DHO program coordinator. "She liked kids. She was worried about going on, how she was going to make the transition. But she was wonderful at what she did. She was very hands-on."
Tracy Schlup, spokesperson for the Perry Local School District, said counselors and administrators are organizing a crisis team to assist students and staff.
"It's got to be impossible for some of them," Schlup said of the tragedy. "Since Kelli has gone here since kindergarten, it's got to be tough."
Schlup said another student, junior Sara Samblanet, was hospitalized following a separate accident on Monday. Samblanet slid off of Kemary Road in Richville. She suffered several injuries, including a laceration to her spleen.
Halterman's death comes not even two months after students and staff at Perry High mourned the tragic death of teacher Jack Leeder, 40, who was killed in a traffic accident in Kidron in Wayne County on Sept. 27.
For the diversified health occupations, Leeder's death, like Halterman's, was especially hard.
Leeder would donate his time to the class, acting as its test patient on occasion.
"This class, this school, this year has had more tragedies," said Gartner, referring to the loss of Halterman, Leeder and the deaths of four teachers' parents. "We barely get over one death and something else happens. We're glad we have each other."
"We kept saying, 'What's going to happen next? What's going to happen next?'" said Chelsea Santarelli, a friend of Halterman who knew Leeder from his time in the class.
REMEMBERED
Classmates set up a memorial to Halterman in the Perry High lobby. A candle burned next to four pictures of the teen, which all showed her smiling from cheek to cheek.
"You were like family to not only me, but all of us in DHO," student Mackenzie Bisset wrote on a red piece of construction paper that rested near the display. "Nothing is going to be the same without you girl! I'm gonna miss you and I'll see you again some day. I love you."
Another card read, "Our friend, our sister. You'll be missed."
Halterman had two brothers and a stepsister, according to friends. She considered her mother, Holly Halterman, her best friend. That's something she made known to her teen peers frequently.
"I never knew Kelli until my junior year," said Jobes as she burst into tears. "It's so weird without her here. I'm so used to her coming up to my chair. She became one of my best friends."
"It's hard to picture (this happening) to someone so close to you," classmate Kayla Montague said.
Gartner was proud of her student and friend and said her seat in class will not be occupied the rest of the school year.
"She was a lot of fun," Gartner said. "She was the kind of kid that even if you're mad at her, she makes you laugh."
KELLI CHRISTINE HALTERMAN
Nov. 10, 1990 — Nov. 17, 2008
Kelli Christine Halterman came into this world prematurely on November 10, 1990, as a precious angel. She left much too early, at age 18, in a tragic car accident on November 17, 2008, only seven days after celebrating her 18th birthday.
It is with unbelievable sadness and great sorrow that Kelli's family and friends find themselves describing a life so prematurely ended, but yet, so cherished. Kelli lived every moment of her short life to the fullest. She had a smile on her face and was always looking for excitement. She was a cheerleader at Perry Schools from grades 7-10. She competed nationally for two years with American Elite Allstars, being part of placing 10th in the world at a competition in Orlando, Fla., in 2007. Kelli was competitive by nature in all she did and challenged everything and everyone. Her bright spirit, beautiful eyes, and red hair melted the hearts of her mom, dad, brothers and so many others. She adored her nieces, Isabella, Chloe and Faith and nephew Benjamin.
Two of her greatest wishes were to have a silver cougar, which she received for her 16th birthday from her mom and dad, and her very own puppy. For her 18th birthday, her dad got her that little black puppy that she affectionately named Jasmine. God must have needed her free spirit and beautiful smile in heaven because there is no other explanation why she was taken away so young.
Kelli's family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to a very special "mom" and woman, Melanie Dye. Melanie was the first person to respond to Kelli's accident. She called 911, held her hand, touched her face, talked with her and provided reassurance until medics arrived. There is a certain kind of peace in knowing our daughter and sister was not alone and was with such a kind person in her last moments on earth.
In keeping with Kelli's wishes, she was able to donate organs to LifeBanc, which exemplifies her spirit of generosity. Kelli's spirit will be with so many forever and ever. She will always be the angel of her family's lives and will only be missed temporarily until they can all be with her in heaven.
Kelli was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Betty and Robert Harriman, and paternal grandfather, James Halterman. She is survived by her mom and dad, Holly and Bob; brothers, Todd, Trevor (Elisa) Ferguson; grandmother, Nancy Halterman; nieces and nephew, Isabella, Benjamin, Faith and Chloe Ferguson; her puppy, Jasmine; special friends, Megan H., Makenna, Megan N., and Josh, as well as numerous other friends and relatives.
Source: Reed Funeral Home, Canton, Ohio.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Published by IndeOnline.com on Wednesday, November 19, 2008:
TRAGEDY STRIKES TWICE
by Matthew Rink
She always wore sweat pants, a hooded sweatshirt, big hoop earrings and — when she could get away with it — tongue and nose rings.
The redhead would drop everything to help someone else. And she packed more fun into 18 years than most do in a lifetime.
Teachers and classmates mourned the death of Kelli Halterman, a Perry High senior, on Tuesday.
"She was very caring," said classmate Britny Jobes. "She would do anything for anyone at the drop of a dime."
"She was the most energized person you'd ever meet," added Alexis McElroy.
Halterman, of 4930 Quincy St. N.W., was killed Monday in a traffic accident at Perry Drive and Brunnerdale Avenue Northwest in Jackson Township.
She was only a few miles from home when she lost control of her 1999 Mercury Cougar, slid off the left side of the roadway and struck a Dodge Ram driven by Joseph Leeson, 39, of 2358 Beechmore Drive N.W.
"There was a lot of snow at the time, and visibility was difficult," Jackson Township Police Chief Harley Neftzer said. "The roads had become wet and slippery."
Halterman was not wearing a seatbelt. She was pronounced dead at Mercy Medical Center at 4:52 p.m. Monday. Leeson was treated in Mercy Medical for minor injuries.
ANOTHER LOSS
Halterman was enrolled in Perry High's diversified health occupations (DHO) program, which trains high school students in the health care field. It's a tight-knit group and the absence of Halterman on Tuesday only made it tighter.
The former cheerleader and softball player attended Perry schools her entire life, starting with Reedurban Elementary. She hoped to become a nurse after high school, but had no concrete plans on where to continue her education.
Halterman worked in Mercy Medical Center's dietary department, just one of the stops on her clinical rotation for school.
"She really wanted to go on into nursing," said Joanna Gartner, Perry's DHO program coordinator. "She liked kids. She was worried about going on, how she was going to make the transition. But she was wonderful at what she did. She was very hands-on."
Tracy Schlup, spokesperson for the Perry Local School District, said counselors and administrators are organizing a crisis team to assist students and staff.
"It's got to be impossible for some of them," Schlup said of the tragedy. "Since Kelli has gone here since kindergarten, it's got to be tough."
Schlup said another student, junior Sara Samblanet, was hospitalized following a separate accident on Monday. Samblanet slid off of Kemary Road in Richville. She suffered several injuries, including a laceration to her spleen.
Halterman's death comes not even two months after students and staff at Perry High mourned the tragic death of teacher Jack Leeder, 40, who was killed in a traffic accident in Kidron in Wayne County on Sept. 27.
For the diversified health occupations, Leeder's death, like Halterman's, was especially hard.
Leeder would donate his time to the class, acting as its test patient on occasion.
"This class, this school, this year has had more tragedies," said Gartner, referring to the loss of Halterman, Leeder and the deaths of four teachers' parents. "We barely get over one death and something else happens. We're glad we have each other."
"We kept saying, 'What's going to happen next? What's going to happen next?'" said Chelsea Santarelli, a friend of Halterman who knew Leeder from his time in the class.
REMEMBERED
Classmates set up a memorial to Halterman in the Perry High lobby. A candle burned next to four pictures of the teen, which all showed her smiling from cheek to cheek.
"You were like family to not only me, but all of us in DHO," student Mackenzie Bisset wrote on a red piece of construction paper that rested near the display. "Nothing is going to be the same without you girl! I'm gonna miss you and I'll see you again some day. I love you."
Another card read, "Our friend, our sister. You'll be missed."
Halterman had two brothers and a stepsister, according to friends. She considered her mother, Holly Halterman, her best friend. That's something she made known to her teen peers frequently.
"I never knew Kelli until my junior year," said Jobes as she burst into tears. "It's so weird without her here. I'm so used to her coming up to my chair. She became one of my best friends."
"It's hard to picture (this happening) to someone so close to you," classmate Kayla Montague said.
Gartner was proud of her student and friend and said her seat in class will not be occupied the rest of the school year.
"She was a lot of fun," Gartner said. "She was the kind of kid that even if you're mad at her, she makes you laugh."
Nov. 10, 1990 — Nov. 17, 2008
Kelli Christine Halterman came into this world prematurely on November 10, 1990, as a precious angel. She left much too early, at age 18, in a tragic car accident on November 17, 2008, only seven days after celebrating her 18th birthday.
It is with unbelievable sadness and great sorrow that Kelli's family and friends find themselves describing a life so prematurely ended, but yet, so cherished. Kelli lived every moment of her short life to the fullest. She had a smile on her face and was always looking for excitement. She was a cheerleader at Perry Schools from grades 7-10. She competed nationally for two years with American Elite Allstars, being part of placing 10th in the world at a competition in Orlando, Fla., in 2007. Kelli was competitive by nature in all she did and challenged everything and everyone. Her bright spirit, beautiful eyes, and red hair melted the hearts of her mom, dad, brothers and so many others. She adored her nieces, Isabella, Chloe and Faith and nephew Benjamin.
Two of her greatest wishes were to have a silver cougar, which she received for her 16th birthday from her mom and dad, and her very own puppy. For her 18th birthday, her dad got her that little black puppy that she affectionately named Jasmine. God must have needed her free spirit and beautiful smile in heaven because there is no other explanation why she was taken away so young.
Kelli's family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to a very special "mom" and woman, Melanie Dye. Melanie was the first person to respond to Kelli's accident. She called 911, held her hand, touched her face, talked with her and provided reassurance until medics arrived. There is a certain kind of peace in knowing our daughter and sister was not alone and was with such a kind person in her last moments on earth.
In keeping with Kelli's wishes, she was able to donate organs to LifeBanc, which exemplifies her spirit of generosity. Kelli's spirit will be with so many forever and ever. She will always be the angel of her family's lives and will only be missed temporarily until they can all be with her in heaven.
Kelli was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Betty and Robert Harriman, and paternal grandfather, James Halterman. She is survived by her mom and dad, Holly and Bob; brothers, Todd, Trevor (Elisa) Ferguson; grandmother, Nancy Halterman; nieces and nephew, Isabella, Benjamin, Faith and Chloe Ferguson; her puppy, Jasmine; special friends, Megan H., Makenna, Megan N., and Josh, as well as numerous other friends and relatives.
Source: Reed Funeral Home, Canton, Ohio.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Published by IndeOnline.com on Wednesday, November 19, 2008:
TRAGEDY STRIKES TWICE
by Matthew Rink
She always wore sweat pants, a hooded sweatshirt, big hoop earrings and — when she could get away with it — tongue and nose rings.
The redhead would drop everything to help someone else. And she packed more fun into 18 years than most do in a lifetime.
Teachers and classmates mourned the death of Kelli Halterman, a Perry High senior, on Tuesday.
"She was very caring," said classmate Britny Jobes. "She would do anything for anyone at the drop of a dime."
"She was the most energized person you'd ever meet," added Alexis McElroy.
Halterman, of 4930 Quincy St. N.W., was killed Monday in a traffic accident at Perry Drive and Brunnerdale Avenue Northwest in Jackson Township.
She was only a few miles from home when she lost control of her 1999 Mercury Cougar, slid off the left side of the roadway and struck a Dodge Ram driven by Joseph Leeson, 39, of 2358 Beechmore Drive N.W.
"There was a lot of snow at the time, and visibility was difficult," Jackson Township Police Chief Harley Neftzer said. "The roads had become wet and slippery."
Halterman was not wearing a seatbelt. She was pronounced dead at Mercy Medical Center at 4:52 p.m. Monday. Leeson was treated in Mercy Medical for minor injuries.
ANOTHER LOSS
Halterman was enrolled in Perry High's diversified health occupations (DHO) program, which trains high school students in the health care field. It's a tight-knit group and the absence of Halterman on Tuesday only made it tighter.
The former cheerleader and softball player attended Perry schools her entire life, starting with Reedurban Elementary. She hoped to become a nurse after high school, but had no concrete plans on where to continue her education.
Halterman worked in Mercy Medical Center's dietary department, just one of the stops on her clinical rotation for school.
"She really wanted to go on into nursing," said Joanna Gartner, Perry's DHO program coordinator. "She liked kids. She was worried about going on, how she was going to make the transition. But she was wonderful at what she did. She was very hands-on."
Tracy Schlup, spokesperson for the Perry Local School District, said counselors and administrators are organizing a crisis team to assist students and staff.
"It's got to be impossible for some of them," Schlup said of the tragedy. "Since Kelli has gone here since kindergarten, it's got to be tough."
Schlup said another student, junior Sara Samblanet, was hospitalized following a separate accident on Monday. Samblanet slid off of Kemary Road in Richville. She suffered several injuries, including a laceration to her spleen.
Halterman's death comes not even two months after students and staff at Perry High mourned the tragic death of teacher Jack Leeder, 40, who was killed in a traffic accident in Kidron in Wayne County on Sept. 27.
For the diversified health occupations, Leeder's death, like Halterman's, was especially hard.
Leeder would donate his time to the class, acting as its test patient on occasion.
"This class, this school, this year has had more tragedies," said Gartner, referring to the loss of Halterman, Leeder and the deaths of four teachers' parents. "We barely get over one death and something else happens. We're glad we have each other."
"We kept saying, 'What's going to happen next? What's going to happen next?'" said Chelsea Santarelli, a friend of Halterman who knew Leeder from his time in the class.
REMEMBERED
Classmates set up a memorial to Halterman in the Perry High lobby. A candle burned next to four pictures of the teen, which all showed her smiling from cheek to cheek.
"You were like family to not only me, but all of us in DHO," student Mackenzie Bisset wrote on a red piece of construction paper that rested near the display. "Nothing is going to be the same without you girl! I'm gonna miss you and I'll see you again some day. I love you."
Another card read, "Our friend, our sister. You'll be missed."
Halterman had two brothers and a stepsister, according to friends. She considered her mother, Holly Halterman, her best friend. That's something she made known to her teen peers frequently.
"I never knew Kelli until my junior year," said Jobes as she burst into tears. "It's so weird without her here. I'm so used to her coming up to my chair. She became one of my best friends."
"It's hard to picture (this happening) to someone so close to you," classmate Kayla Montague said.
Gartner was proud of her student and friend and said her seat in class will not be occupied the rest of the school year.
"She was a lot of fun," Gartner said. "She was the kind of kid that even if you're mad at her, she makes you laugh."
