Goodrich- Following a visitation on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31 and a funeral on Feb. 1, friends and family of Kayla O’Mara gathered together once again last week. This time, however, it was not in mourning, but rather in celebration.
At 6 p.m. on Feb. 4, Goodrich High School hosted a ‘Celebration of Life? for Kayla at the Raymond C. Green Center for the Performing Arts, 8029 S. Gale Road in Goodrich.
Personal mementos were displayed outside the auditorium — trophies, artwork and photographs ‘memories and milestones in the life of the 16-year-old daughter, student, track star and friend.
Kayla was killed in a car accident on the evening Jan. 24 that left her twin sister Kaitlin and friend Danielle Bila, 17, in critical condition at Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc.
The mood in the auditorium was bittersweet as each of the speakers took the stage, the soft thudding of their steps resonating throughout in the nearly silent theater as they made their way to a podium .
Kayla’s cross country and track coach, Todd Jones, acted as master of ceremonies for the evening, introducing teachers, friends and family as they came forward to share memories with the crowd of more than 100 people.
A picture of Kayla? big smile, sandy-blonde hair swept back into a ponytail? was projected onto a large screen above the stage along with the words ‘remembering the love.?
Cross country teammate and friend Trevor Castor read a poem he wrote entitled ‘The Race Ran.? Teacher Sarah Kaechele’in whose classroom the track team would gather before practice? spoke of her classroom seeming ‘ridiculously empty.?
Jeremy Phan, Kayla’s friend and former cross country teammate, presented a DVD featuring pictures of Kayla set to music. ‘Kayla would be really happy with how this whole thing turned out,? said Phan, 18.
Another track coach of Kayla’s, Brad Rainwater, spoke of the positive impact Kayla had on his life and his grief over her death. ‘There’s no words that probably can express how I felt,? Rainwater told the crowd.
Cross Country and track coach Terry Castor summed up feelings expressed by many in the weeks since Kayla’s death, saying, ‘Inevitably you come to the question ‘why? and ‘what good can come from this?'”
Castor said something positive can be found in the tragedy by way of the legacy Kayla has left behind.
He said Kayla should serve as reminder to all to: work hard; be humble; be careful and to show and tell friends how much they are loved.
Erin O’Mara said her relationship with her sister ultimately taught her about unconditional love.
‘I am a very special person to be able to call Kayla my baby sister,? Erin said.
Janee Jones, Kayla’s friend and former track teammate, spoke at the event and was pleased with the evening’s outcome.
‘I think it went great,? said Jones, 19. ‘I’m glad we all got to go up there and say something.?
Kelsey Meyers, also a friend and track teammate, agreed. ‘I thought it went really good. I’m glad all these people came.? Meyers, 16, added she thought the evening went ‘just the way Kayla would have wanted it.?
A video featuring pictures and footage of Kayla, along with commentary from friends, was shown. Copies will be sold with the proceeds going to the Kayla O’Mara Scholarship Fund. It was also announced that a race is being planned in her memory, with proceeds from that event also going to the fund.
The accident occurred while Bila was driving westbound on Baldwin Road between Vasser and Saginaw roads. Bila lost control of the Pontiac Bonneville she was driving on the icy road and spun across the center lane, hitting an eastbound 2001 Ford pick-up truck.
The driver of the truck, a 41 year old Lapeer resident, suffered minor injuries and was later arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Both Kaitlin and Bila remain in critical condition.
Donations can be made to the Kayla O’Mara Scholarship Fund at Goodrich High School, 8029 Gale Road,Goodrich Mich. 48438.