Silver Lake students, staff grieving after Thursday's fatal wreck on US-24
Former AAU coach Lenard, also killed in wreck, remembered for touching lives of youths in area
Posted: August 19, 2016 - 6:09pm
Gregarious, quirky and a constant smile are just some of the words used Friday to illustrate the unique personalities of the Silver Lake students who died Thursday in a two-vehicle wreck on US-24 highway on their way to school.
“The first thing that comes to mind is the smile that was always on her face,” said Ronda Pegram, principal of Silver Lake Elementary — where Gaby Greeve, 11, was a sixth-grader who wanted to someday become a pediatric nurse. “From the time we got her in second grade and throughout, that smile is just the first thing you think of.”
Brad Womack, principal of Silver Lake Junior High-High School, said Tyler Crouse, 14 — Gaby’s step-brother who had just started his freshman year on Tuesday — loved playing percussion instruments, photography and had an infectious personality.
“You knew when Tyler was in the room,” Womack said. “Tyler brought energy to any room he was in, whether that was the lunchroom, the gym, the classroom. You never knew if Tyler was having a bad day.”
Devin Greeve, 17, Gaby’s older brother, had just begun his senior year on Tuesday. He was more reserved but had a definite sense of humor, Womack said. He said Devin was always willing to try something new, having tried wrestling as a freshman and then later taking up the saxophone. He also had completed his certificate at Washburn Tech for computer repair, Womack said.
Michelle Taylor, Silver Lake High School’s debate and forensics coach, said she was going to be relying on Devin to be a mentor to the nine freshmen novices on this year’s squad.
“He was my only senior,” she said, adding that Devin participated in the humorous solo, informative speaking and prose forensic events. “Devin could connect with anyone.”
Further describing someone who “lived life at his own pace” and would launch into “random stories” in class, Taylor said Devin will always be “one of my favorites.”
“There is going to be a gaping void in my squad and in my heart this season,” she wrote on her personal Facebook page on Thursday, “and I’m not sure how to fill it.”
Silver Lake Unified School District 372 superintendent Tim Hallacy said he is proud of the response by teachers, staff, community members and others to Thursday’s tragedy. He said the way in which counseling services are provided depends largely on the relationships the students and staff had with those whose lives were lost.
“When we put supports together, it’s not just with the students in mind,” Hallacy said. “It’s also with the staff, because they need support, too. They’re going through the grieving process just like everyone is.”
In between talking about the emotions they and their teachers were experiencing, Pegram and Womack also expressed their sadness for the death of Lance Lenard, 47, of Rossville, the driver of the other vehicle who died in Thursday morning’s crash. Pegram said she and Lenard were in the same Rossville High School graduating class. Womack said Lenard touched the lives of many Silver Lake, Rossville and northeast Kansas children as an Amateur Athletic Union, or AAU, summer track coach.
Lenard’s son, Kade Lenard, 13, also of Rossville, was in the vehicle his father was driving Tuesday morning. As of Thursday afternoon, he was listed by the Kansas Highway Patrol as injured but stable at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.
Tim Winter, superintendent of Wamego USD 320, said Lance Lenard had also been an assistant track coach at Wamego High School since 2012.
“Lance was always a very positive and upbeat person,” he said. “He was respected by students and staff and had a passion for working with student-athletes. We’ll miss him. It makes you reflect on how important every day is and how you should let those around you know you love them.”
Hallacy said an account to help the families of Devin, Tyler and Gaby has been set up at the Silver Lake Bank branch in Silver Lake. He said questions can be directed to Kathy Richards. Accounts on the GoFundMe website have also been established for the three children’s families, as well as for the Lenard family.
