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Replacing Memorials for Lilli, Gabryel, Cameron, and Krystal

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Why?

Krystal Reuther. Gabe Mills. Lilli Genaw. Cameron Davis.

Why?

Why, indeed. It’s a question that we who love and care about these four people may never stop asking. Now, we have a new reason to ask why, and while we might not find an answer, we are asking if you would like to help us provide a solution.



As you likely know, the four individuals listed above died in automobile accidents that were almost certainly preventable with better driving choices. In remembrance of them, we placed crosses on the roadsides where they lost their lives. Krystal, 25, had a memorial on Highway 20, halfway up from Discovery Bay, and Gabe, 18, Cameron, 20, and Lilli, 21, had a memorial on Highway 19, near the Kala Point entrance business park. These memorials were placed there with permission of the property owners, well-maintained, and visited and appreciated by many. These young people were, and are loved, and are missed, and now their memorials are missed, as well.


Why? In early October 2024 we noted that the crosses were gone. We considered vandals, as the cross memorial for Lilli, Cameron and Gabe had previously been vandalized, and required repair, but the areas left behind this time were cleaned up, almost as though nothing of consequence had been there in the first place. Our next thought was that they had been taken as part of an ‘official’ project, so we spent some time going through channels, trying to reach people, and verifying that these memorials were not taken as part of a city, county, or state act. To the best of our knowledge, according to all of the officials we made contact with, this was not authorized or carried out by any government agency.

These memorials were beautifully handmade, and personalized to each of the crash sites. Loved ones would sometimes stop by and leave flowers, or small personal mementos. These crosses served as a positive reminder of our loved ones, and hopefully, even more importantly, they helped people remember to drive carefully. Maybe they helped people remember that it can all be over in an instant – the next minute is not guaranteed, whether it’s an accident, health issue, act of violence, or anything else, the result is the same, and we must all live our best lives now, and try to act honorably in remembrance of our loved ones who have gone on before us.

Perhaps the memorials helped people recognize the value of today. I hope so. Whether or not you donate to this cause, please consider doing something to benefit those who need it, as often as you can, in honor of those we have lost, and remember the lessons they taught us as they breathed their last breath. Love. If nothing else, drive with care, and respect the power you hold in your hands – not just the wheel controlling the vehicle, but also the power to quickly change the lives of so many other people, forever, by the choices you make behind that wheel.

We did make an official report to law enforcement, and reached out on social media, once we verified that the memorials weren’t removed ‘officially. If this wasn’t a ‘mistake’ by official road crews, it was likely a single individual or group, acting on a private agenda. The first Facebook post we made had 170 shares, and was shared far beyond that. When we lost Krystal that beautiful, sunny, October afternoon, our community rallied around us, and they did so again a year later, on the cold, wet, early November morning that we lost Gabe, Lilli, and Cameron, so we were not at all surprised by the support we received when we announced that their memorial crosses had gone missing, and asked for help. We also were not really surprised by how many people noticed they were missing, and even reached out to us, even before we posted about it. It’s a small town. Because it’s a small town, though, and as the memorials were located on the two main roads, we did get some clues, including vehicle descriptions, which was helpful. However, we also received feedback which indicated that we were not the only ones to have had our cross memorials taken.
Why?

We can’t answer that. We don’t know why. But most everyone, emphatically, some quite vocally, agree that it was wrong, and support replacement of the memorials. There are those who felt they were distracting, or distasteful, and did not want them visible – perhaps they were taken as an act by one or more of these individuals. Again, we don’t know why. Realistically, the reason probably isn’t justifiable, anyway. We the family would love to have memorials there. Since this event, we have learned that many in the community would love to have memorials there. We really would love to have the original memorials with all the precious trinkets and tokens that were taken along with the crosses there now, and never have had them taken, in the first place, for that matter. We don’t have much hope that these will be returned. If you can help return these items to us, please do.

As much as we would like for this to have never happened, here we are. We have permission of the property owners to have a memorial, if we like, but somehow it feels like after this, there would be a kind of shadow over whatever we choose to put the money, time, energy, and most importantly, love, into. Rather than smiling at the beauty as we passed that tiny area of the world, we would simply be relieved. The rest of the time, instead of getting past the sadness and heartache over our loss, and being able to focus on more of the good and important things when we suddenly think of our beloved lost, we would be thinking about whether some unscrupulous, shameless, or sadly misguided individual, or group of people, was for whatever reason, ripping the memorial away from us again. Ultimately, the reason does not matter, because the result is the same. This simply gives us another reason to be sad, angry, betrayed, or any other kind of ugly emotion, on top of the feelings so many of us already have as we drive in or out of town on one of these main roads, within feet of where our loved ones spent their final moments on this earth.

You may have noticed, along certain roads, rectangular white signs, or the updated blue signs with white writing, reminding people about their driving, and listing a name, or group of names, where an accident has occurred. These are official memorial plaques, authorized and installed by the Washington State Department of Transportation. They are placed for a period of 10 years at a time, and the cost to have them made and placed is $1,000.00 per sign. We would very much like to arrange for 20-year sign placements in honor of Lilli, Gabe, Cameron, and Krystal, and we are asking for your help to raise the $4,000.00 needed to accomplish it.

Please consider donating to this cause, or sharing this information and asking others to do so, as well. It will not be the same warm, loving, homemade memorials, but it will help to serve as a reminder for us, and everyone, hopefully from 2025 to 2045, and even beyond. Life happens, things go on, and we find new friends and focuses – regardless, reminders to drive carefully, not to mention that life can be over in an instant, might just make a difference for someone, sometime, and we can all be proud for what we helped do, in memory of our loved ones.
Why not?

Thank you.


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Donations 

  • Corinne Gregory Sharpe
    • $50
    • 19 d
  • Ann Nelms
    • $100
    • 23 d
  • Bethel Prescott
    • $25
    • 23 d
  • Jack Bilan
    • $50
    • 2 mos
  • Jill Landes
    • $100
    • 2 mos
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Organizer

Jody Reuther
Organizer
Port Townsend, WA

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