here is the official story
Classmates, teachers and staff at Fallon's E.C. Best Elementary School returned to school Tuesday mourning the loss of a first grade student.
Kendra Beebe, 6, died Sunday morning after an accident with a horse at the Churchill County Fairgrounds. She was preparing to participate in a junior rodeo at the Cantaloupe Festival.
?She had a great spirit,? said Principal Keith Boone.
While riding in a practice arena at the fairgrounds with her father Matt at her side, Kendra's horse was spooked by a passing golf cart and threw her. She was transported to Banner Churchill Community Hospital by ambulance, where she died from her injuries.
Boone said an emergency staff meeting was called Sunday afternoon and staff split the responsibility of calling the parents of students in Kendra's first grade class. Jennifer Beebe, Kendra's mother, was also a sixth-grade teacher at E.C. Best, and staff called parents of students in class to alert them of the tragedy.
?Parents want to be the ones to talk to their kids about death,? Boone said.
Outside the school, the flag flew at half mast Tuesday, a visible sign of the sorrow felt within the school's walls. Jennifer has taught at the school for more than 10 years.
Boone read a short statement over the intercom when the day began and asked for a moment of silence.
Kendra's teacher, Julie Dolan, said the class of 6- and 7-year-olds was very somber. She said there were lots of tears, and she let students know it was all right to cry ? or laugh ? as they share their memories of Kendra.
Dolan struggled over whether or not to leave Kendra's desk in class on Tuesday, and eventually decided to leave it there for the day. She said all her students quietly touched Kendra's desk at one point during the day as they passed by.
To give her students an outlet for their grief, Dolan asked each child to draw a memory they had of Kendra. After school, Dolan had the memory book laminated and bound, and teachers poured through the stick figure drawings and short sentences written in large, unsteady handwriting.
?Kendra and I liked to hit pencils ... Kendra liked flowers ... Kendra liked horses,? some of the memories read.
Dolan was more than Kendra's teacher ? she is a family friend. Dolan said she was so happy to see Kendra on her class list this year because Jennifer is not only a co-worker, but also a friend. In fact, Dolan helped organized Jennifer's baby shower before Kendra was born. She said the close knit community of teachers at the school almost help raise each others' children because they're at the school after the bell rings for the day, and they really get to know each other.
Kendra participated in the Boots and Britches for two years, a rodeo skills program for young children. Her grandmother, Nancy Bradley, said this was Kendra's first year of rodeo, and she participated in barrel racing, pole bending and Figure 8.
Bradley, who watched Kendra when Jennifer went back to college to earn her teaching degree, said the family's ?hearts are just torn.?
?Everybody loved her, and she loved everybody. She was such a happy, lovable girl, just a joy.
?When she found out she was going to be a big sister, it was the most important thing in her life. Kendra wanted to be a big sister. This is a really tough thing. We hope she's able to look down from heaven and be in charge of Jesus' nursery,? Bradley said.
Jennifer and Matt are expecting a new baby in less than three months.
?She was such a shining star,? said Samantha Gomes, a Boots and Britches organizer. ?She was so bright and so happy all the time.?
Gomes said Kendra loved riding her horse and ?gave it her all? when participating in rodeo events. She also remembered the little blond girl as a good team member, cheering on other children and supporting them.
Boone also noted Kendra's supportive spirit. He said his lasting memory of Kendra ? from just a week ago ? was when students played soccer at lunch time. Boone said after another girl on her team scored a goal, Kendra hugged and congratulated her.
The outpouring of support from the community began before the long weekend was even over. Lael Casey, an organizer with the Lions Club Junior Rodeo, said a donation can was set out Monday at the rodeo, and silent and goat auctions were held. A makeshift memorial was placed on the fence near where Kendra's accident occurred, featuring a poster signed by the rodeo contestants, flowers, teddy bears and cards.
Casey said some of the children who won at the rodeo donated their winnings to the Beebe family for funeral expenses.
Casey, who said she literally had people handing her money for Kendra, was unsure of the exact amount raised, but heard it was over $3,000.
?The things that happened (Monday) were just amazing,? Casey said. ?The community just came together.?
The Elks Club and the Cantaloupe Festival committee also donated money to Kendra's family.
Services for Kendra Beebe will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Parkside Bible Fellowship, 485 Tedford Lane, with graveside services following at The Gardens Funeral Home. A reception will follow the graveside service at Parkside.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to two local causes: Churchill Animal Protection Society, 5894 Pasture Road, Fallon, NV 89406; or to the Churchill County Parks and Recreation Boots and Britches program, 325 Sheckler Road, Fallon, NV 89406.
Kendra's grandmother, who said God blessed them with six wonderful years, remembered the 6-year-old this way:
?She was just a love, a joy. Everything about her just emitted love. She was truly a child of God.?"
I was her T-ball coach this year and she was a smart and energetic child, she was a pleasure to coach and i am glad to have her in my life, it's time like these when you really apprieciate life and everything you got I had to take a few moments with my kids and hold them cause it also tells you you really don't know how long you got in life or anyone you love..........
Nickleal98
Classmates, teachers and staff at Fallon's E.C. Best Elementary School returned to school Tuesday mourning the loss of a first grade student.
Kendra Beebe, 6, died Sunday morning after an accident with a horse at the Churchill County Fairgrounds. She was preparing to participate in a junior rodeo at the Cantaloupe Festival.
?She had a great spirit,? said Principal Keith Boone.
While riding in a practice arena at the fairgrounds with her father Matt at her side, Kendra's horse was spooked by a passing golf cart and threw her. She was transported to Banner Churchill Community Hospital by ambulance, where she died from her injuries.
Boone said an emergency staff meeting was called Sunday afternoon and staff split the responsibility of calling the parents of students in Kendra's first grade class. Jennifer Beebe, Kendra's mother, was also a sixth-grade teacher at E.C. Best, and staff called parents of students in class to alert them of the tragedy.
?Parents want to be the ones to talk to their kids about death,? Boone said.
Outside the school, the flag flew at half mast Tuesday, a visible sign of the sorrow felt within the school's walls. Jennifer has taught at the school for more than 10 years.
Boone read a short statement over the intercom when the day began and asked for a moment of silence.
Kendra's teacher, Julie Dolan, said the class of 6- and 7-year-olds was very somber. She said there were lots of tears, and she let students know it was all right to cry ? or laugh ? as they share their memories of Kendra.
Dolan struggled over whether or not to leave Kendra's desk in class on Tuesday, and eventually decided to leave it there for the day. She said all her students quietly touched Kendra's desk at one point during the day as they passed by.
To give her students an outlet for their grief, Dolan asked each child to draw a memory they had of Kendra. After school, Dolan had the memory book laminated and bound, and teachers poured through the stick figure drawings and short sentences written in large, unsteady handwriting.
?Kendra and I liked to hit pencils ... Kendra liked flowers ... Kendra liked horses,? some of the memories read.
Dolan was more than Kendra's teacher ? she is a family friend. Dolan said she was so happy to see Kendra on her class list this year because Jennifer is not only a co-worker, but also a friend. In fact, Dolan helped organized Jennifer's baby shower before Kendra was born. She said the close knit community of teachers at the school almost help raise each others' children because they're at the school after the bell rings for the day, and they really get to know each other.
Kendra participated in the Boots and Britches for two years, a rodeo skills program for young children. Her grandmother, Nancy Bradley, said this was Kendra's first year of rodeo, and she participated in barrel racing, pole bending and Figure 8.
Bradley, who watched Kendra when Jennifer went back to college to earn her teaching degree, said the family's ?hearts are just torn.?
?Everybody loved her, and she loved everybody. She was such a happy, lovable girl, just a joy.
?When she found out she was going to be a big sister, it was the most important thing in her life. Kendra wanted to be a big sister. This is a really tough thing. We hope she's able to look down from heaven and be in charge of Jesus' nursery,? Bradley said.
Jennifer and Matt are expecting a new baby in less than three months.
?She was such a shining star,? said Samantha Gomes, a Boots and Britches organizer. ?She was so bright and so happy all the time.?
Gomes said Kendra loved riding her horse and ?gave it her all? when participating in rodeo events. She also remembered the little blond girl as a good team member, cheering on other children and supporting them.
Boone also noted Kendra's supportive spirit. He said his lasting memory of Kendra ? from just a week ago ? was when students played soccer at lunch time. Boone said after another girl on her team scored a goal, Kendra hugged and congratulated her.
The outpouring of support from the community began before the long weekend was even over. Lael Casey, an organizer with the Lions Club Junior Rodeo, said a donation can was set out Monday at the rodeo, and silent and goat auctions were held. A makeshift memorial was placed on the fence near where Kendra's accident occurred, featuring a poster signed by the rodeo contestants, flowers, teddy bears and cards.
Casey said some of the children who won at the rodeo donated their winnings to the Beebe family for funeral expenses.
Casey, who said she literally had people handing her money for Kendra, was unsure of the exact amount raised, but heard it was over $3,000.
?The things that happened (Monday) were just amazing,? Casey said. ?The community just came together.?
The Elks Club and the Cantaloupe Festival committee also donated money to Kendra's family.
Services for Kendra Beebe will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Parkside Bible Fellowship, 485 Tedford Lane, with graveside services following at The Gardens Funeral Home. A reception will follow the graveside service at Parkside.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to two local causes: Churchill Animal Protection Society, 5894 Pasture Road, Fallon, NV 89406; or to the Churchill County Parks and Recreation Boots and Britches program, 325 Sheckler Road, Fallon, NV 89406.
Kendra's grandmother, who said God blessed them with six wonderful years, remembered the 6-year-old this way:
?She was just a love, a joy. Everything about her just emitted love. She was truly a child of God.?"
I was her T-ball coach this year and she was a smart and energetic child, she was a pleasure to coach and i am glad to have her in my life, it's time like these when you really apprieciate life and everything you got I had to take a few moments with my kids and hold them cause it also tells you you really don't know how long you got in life or anyone you love..........
Nickleal98
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