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Hundreds remember joyful teen By AMBER FOSSEN Ashland Daily Tidings Several hundred friends and family flocked to Ashland Christian Fellowship to celebrate Jessyca Tahlor Newmann's life. Sunday afternoon was filled with jokes, smiles, memories and tears as more than 300 community members gathered to celebrate Newmann, 14, who was killed Aug. 17 in a rollover accident while returning home from a missionary trip to Mexico. Doves are released to honor Jessyca Tahlor Newmann by her mother Kelly LaDuke (center) following Newmann's memorial service Sunday at Ashland Christian Fellowship. Ashland Daily Tidings/ SATSUKI DOI TOP RIGHT. According to church member Kim Lewis, Newmann influenced a lot of lives. "It was awesome. The church was packed, totally packed, with standing room only," Lewis said of the afternoon memorial. The memorial tribute celebrated Newmann's life with photographs, personal stories, and songs like "The Test" which was written by Chris Lewis and performed by Lewis and other teens who traveled with Newmann to Mexico. A missionary team of 23 teens and eight adults spent 12 days in Mexico building homes. According to team members, Newmann had bonded with the village's children - a surprise to no one who knew the outgoing teen. Newmann volunteered her time at a Talent Elementary school in addition to helping her fellow students at Talent Middle School where she graduated from this spring. She had a number of friends and was active in everything from youth symphony to choir to track. She also enjoyed basketball, volleyball and attending church youth groups. Newmann was the only fatality in the rollover accident, which is still under investigation, according to California Highway Patrol officer Jasper Begay. Police reports indicate the van, driven by youth pastor Jeremy Hascall, 28, rolled just before 5 a.m. last Sunday. Police believe the van drifted and rolled after the driver tried to correct the van. No charges have been filed. Three girls were seriously injured in the wreck. Kelsey Smith, 15, of Medford, suffered a spinal injury which required surgery. Smith underwent surgery last week at Sutter Health Hospital in Roseville, Calif., and is being transferred to Portland today to begin rehabilitation. Elisa Rosenlund, 15, of Ashland, has a fractured pelvis. She underwent surgery Saturday at UC Davis Medical Center, which went well according to family friends. Rosenlund is expected to remain hospitalized throughout the week. Kayla Heffner, 15, of Talent, suffered a punctured lung and a dislocated neck. She is now home recovering. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -