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June 30, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 4, 2004 Tree planted in memory of teen who died in fall By John Darling Tidings Correspondent A hundred or more of Tracy Dewey's hall mates sang, read poems, hugged each other and tossed dirt on an an ash sapling, newly planted in her memory, with a plaque and meditation bench soon to follow. "It's been the hardest week of my teaching career," said Libre Cory, Tracy's language arts teacher, "not just dealing with my own grief, but hundreds of students in so much sadness. We've all been pushed in ways we never expected to deal with." Principal Dale Rooklyn led the noontime event, thanking students for raising money for the tree and telling them they've been a big part of the healing, both for community and Tracy's family. Her father, Paul Dewey, offered quiet respects for Tracy, killed May 22 in a 70-foot fall at Fort Rock in Central Oregon. Tracy's close friend, Hannah Grierson read a poem, "The meaning of true friendship is easy to explain / Friendship is with you in laughter, love and pain�The reasons only God can give / can put my mind at rest / It's true He takes the best." Students have been huddling, walking and hugging in pairs and small groups, often in silence very uncharacteristic of middle schoolers, said Cory. "They don't want to be alone. I hope the tree planting helps move them from grief into the beginnings of healing." Grierson's poem ended, "I wish I had the chance to see you just once more / To tell you friend, I love you, like I should have done before." A poem by friend Alexis Meadows went, "I sit and cry and ask God why / He chose a good friend to suddenly die�Tell her I wish her the best / So that someday will come, I'll be her guest." "This week has been real hard," said friend Alison Wren, following songs sung by Zoe Whitbeck. "Everyone gets now that this really happened." Laying lilies by the new tree adjacent to the gym was Casey Bright, father of Lily Bright, Tracy's hiking companion who, after witnessing her death, underwent a gruelling four-hour rescue from a narrow ledge. "Tracy was always kind and loving - never mean to anyone," said friend Chelsea Darnell. Students in Tracy's hall made scores of condolence cards for her family and underwent many hours of counseling from school staff, Cory said. "We'll never forget her. She was a big part of our lives." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams