Family, Friends Gather To Remember Teen Drowning Victims

Three teenagers were remembered Sunday night with a new memorial fund.
 
Caity Jones, James Smith and Kai Lamar drowned during a mission trip last spring when they caught a rip tide off the coast of Costa Rica, 10TV News reported.
 
The youth group at the Crossroads Community Church in Obetz created a memorial fund in Jones’ name to help people in missions overseas.
 
"We miss her, but on a day when I should just be feeling dark and drab and horrible, I have happiness, because you guys put this together," Diane Hunter, Jones’ mother, said to the youth group. "Tears can be okay, not always horrible. Sometimes we need them to heal. I'm so touched by this."
 
The first day of the new memorial to Jones came on what would be her 18th birthday, 10TV News reported.
 
"This is a birthday life celebration, and today is about happiness and moving forward," Hunter said.
 
"This day means so much because she's impact my life so much," Jones’ friend Shawna Bethel said.
 
Bethel will go back to Costa Rica this summer with help from her friend's new fund.
 
"I'm walking in Caity's footsteps and continuing what she did," Bethel said.
 
The church is now accepting donations for the Caity Noelle Memorial Mission Fund.
 
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for more information.