Friends remember girl killed by tree
Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
In a couple of years, when members of the Siloam Springs High School graduating class of 2010 stride across the stage to accept their diplomas they will be short one classmate.
The day will be one of joy and optimism for graduates and their families but, inevitably, the memory of Eliana Chacon will linger in the springtime air.
"She had a great sense of humor, a beautiful smile and bright shining eyes which always reflected laughter," Siloam Springs High School drama teacher Dana McCutcheon said. "Her presence is greatly missed."
Fifteen-year-old Chacon, born in Chihuahua, Mexico, on June 13, 1992, died in her home early Friday morning when straight line winds blew a large tree into her families' mobile home and onto the bed where she was sleeping.
Her ten year old brother, Edwin, asleep in the same room, was injured in the calamity as well. He has since been released from the hospital with a healing limp, back pain, an arm break and an enormous amount of little-boy heartache.
"It's funny but in fourth period Spanish last Thursday she was joking around to all of us about how school wouldn't be the same without her," fellow sophomore and friend Iris Frias said. "We were laughing and saying that we'd be better off but we were wrong - things will never ever be the same now that she's gone."
Funeral services were held Sunday at the church that Chacon attended with her family, Seventh-day Adventist Church in West Siloam Springs, Okla. under the direction of Wasson Funeral Home.
"I didn't know her well but could tell from the funeral that she was well liked and will be dearly missed," High School Principal Charles Abernathy said. "The mood around school has definitely been somber."
Chacon lived with her younger brother and mother, Margarita Rodriguez.
She is also survived by her father, Eliseo Chacon and older brother, Daniel Chacon.
On Thursday afternoon, Chacon spent the afternoon with her English teacher, Bradford Lemons, working on a research paper that was due within the next week.
Mucking through piles of research material and correcting grammatical errors on her nearly-completed assisgnment, Chacon spoke freely with Lemons, telling him how much she was looking forward to planning a baby shower for one of her relatives this summer and an upcoming visit to her older brother who lives in Texas.
She spoke of college plans and expressed an interest in someday living in Dallas.
"Before she left my room at 3: 30 that day, she told me, ' Mr. Lemons, you're a good teacher. Thank you for the help, '"Lemons said. "That was Eliana - she was always encouraging those around her."
With a future seemingly as bright as the luminous smile that friends claim lit up a room, Chacon was a diligent student with a high grade point average, said school counselor Debbie Mattingly.
"She was a little quiet in class but never hesitated to jump in when she was asked to do something," McCutcheon said. "She was a great student and she loved school."
Plans were in the works for Chacon to skip a grade for early graduation.
"Just last week Eliana and her mother were in my office talking about the possibility of her graduating a year early," Mattingly said. "She was happy at school and doing well but she felt that she was ready to move a little faster. "
Chacon spent after school hours watching over her younger brother while her mother worked.
"She was smart and worked hard at everything she did," sophomore and friend Maria Ballesteros said. "She wanted to be so perfect for her mom and she really was."
Along with several other friends, Ballesteros attended Chacon's Quiceanera, a party traditional in some Hispanic cultures to celebrate a young woman's 15 th birthday, last year.
Ballesteros was working with Chacon and her mother to plan her Sweet 16 celebration for next month.
"Now she's never going to get to have that party," Ballesteros said. "She and her mom were so excited and we had so many plans for it."
On Monday, high school students were invited to convene in the volleyball gym lounge where a makeshift crisis and grieving center had been set up by counselors.
More than 30 of Chacon's friends and peers gathered on the sofas in the lounge to listen to a mixed compilation CD of their deceased friend's favorite music, look at pictures, mourn, tell stories and laugh at happy memories.
A slide show of friends' favorite photos of Chacon was also created and shown, Mattingly said.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, friends sold red ribbons for $ 1 in remembrance of Chacon with all proceeds intended for her family.
After the entire stock of more than a 110 ribbons were sold at the school, more were demanded by students waving dollar bills.
In addition, Arvest Bank has established account No. 18366150 for the family, and a fundraiser is being planned by Choice Mobile Home Park on east Lake Frances Drive where they lived.
The family had just completed an extensive remodeling project on the mobile home that they had owned for more than three years when the devastating storm hit.
In the weeks to come Chacon's family will continue to grieve, teachers will continue happening upon her recently turned-in assignments, and friends will continue re-reading text messages.
Chacon's survivors are united in the sorrow of her death and in the similar anecdotes they tell about the brightness of her smile, her brilliance, ambition and desire to make everyone around her feel loved and welcome.
"We used to go to the mall in Fayetteville or McDonalds and just sit forever and talk about life," a tearful Ballesteros said. "She got along with everyone, and made you laugh when you had a bad day. We all loved her and will miss her so much."
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