Evans community shows support for family of slain Fort Hood soldier

Schoolmates, neighbors and area business leaders showed their support this morning for the Evans family of a Fort Hood victim.

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Jackie Ricciardi/staff

(left to right) Asst. Principal, Mona Reynolds, Ronnie Michaels, Marikay DeCrow, Asst. Principal, Brian Reeder, Kylah DeCrow, Blake Michaels and Principal, Michael Johnson participate in a check presentation at Evan Middle School on Friday, Novemeber 19, 2009. Mr. Michaels presented the DeCrow family a $5,500 check. Justin DeCrow was one of the victims of the Fort hood shooting.

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That support included a $5,775 check from the faculty and pupils of Evans Middle School, where Staff Sgt. Justin DeCrow's daughter Kylah is a seventh-grader, given to the family during a Friday presentation.

"I'm just overwhelmed," said Staff Sgt. DeCrow's wife, Marikay, following the presentation. "I'm just so grateful to everyone who has been there to help us."

Staff Sgt. DeCrow died along with 12 others during a Nov. 5 shooting spree at Texas base.

To help Mrs. DeCrow and her daughter, Kylah's teachers and classmates decided to solicit donations. The funds were raised this month at the school, which sought donations from staff, pupils and the community.

The amount raised was about five times more than the school had intended.

"I've just been amazed by this community," said Evans Middle Principal Mike Johnson. "With times as tough as they are and with the holidays approaching, we we're expecting to get $500 or $1,000. But the way this community has stepped up to help out has just been unbelievable."

More than half of the donations were due to the efforts of Taylor Auto Group Used Car Manager Ronnie Michaels.

Mr. Michaels, whose son Blake is an eighth-grader at Evans Middle, said he read about the school's fundraising efforts and was compelled to help. He reached out to other car dealerships and friends for donations and raised $3,525.

"If you can't help out the kids, who can you help?" Mr. Michaels asked.

Donations will continue to be accepted in Kylah's name and should be sent to 2508 Grier Circle, Evans, GA 30809.

The funds will be used to further Kylah's education, Mrs. DeCrow said.

Kylah, who started back to school on Monday, has taken the loss of her father as well as can be expected, her mother said.

"I don't think it has really hit her yet," Mrs. DeCrow said. "Everywhere she goes her father is so honored. She's been hearing so many wonderful things about Justin, I don't think she's had time to process what's happened."

After attending numerous memorial services and recently burying her husband near their hometown of Plymouth, Ind., Mrs. DeCrow said she too has had difficulty taking time to grieve.

"It's been very hard," she said as she wept. "How does anyone ever cope with something like this?"

In addition to the financial support, Kylah's classmates also sent her cards and a large poster expressing their sympathies that nearly ever pupil at Evans Middle signed.

"When she opened the poster, she was shocked," Mrs. DeCrow said. "That really meant a lot to her."