From Deseret News archives:
Support swells for Ceran family
"We're just keeping them in our thoughts and prayers," said Wyn Datwyler, a friend and neighbor of the Ceran family from Cedar Hills. "We're just wanting them to know they're not alone."
Datwyler and Janece Vance, another neighbor and friend from the Cerans' church ward, left a note on the family's door with an offer of a homemade meal. Below the note, a giant poinsettia graced the step.
Cheryl L. Ceran, 47, her 15-year-old son, Ian Ceran, and 7-year-old daughter Julianna Ceran were killed early Christmas Eve, police said, when a pickup truck ran a red light and collided with the family's passenger car at the intersection of 5400 South and 700 West in Murray. All three were sitting in the front seat of the car. Police say the driver of the pickup truck was intoxicated.
Husband Gary Ceran, 45, the couple's 12-year-old son, Caleb Ceran, and 18-year-old daughter, Clarissa Ceran, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. All three were in the back seat of the car.
The family was headed home to Cedar Hills after attending the cast party for "A Christmas Carol" and then doing some last-minute Christmas shopping.
As a benefit to the family, the Hale Centre Theatre will stage two additional performances of its new production "See How They Run" Friday at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
"It's the only thing that we can think of to do, at $15 a ticket, and we'll just roll with it," said Sally Dietlein, executive producer for Hale Centre Theatre, where Ceran played the role of Bob Cratchit in "A Christmas Carol." Caleb and Clarissa also acted in the play.
Tickets for Friday's special performances will cost $15 with all money going to the family. Tickets for the shows can be purchased by calling the West Valley theater at 801-984-9000.
The Cerans' ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is also rallying together and plans to set up a trust fund in the family's name.
Greg Kofford, the LDS bishop of the family's former ward, the Cedar Hills 13th Ward, described the family as the "greatest family you could probably ever meet."
Kofford described Gary Ceran as a giving, loving person and Cheryl Ceran as a soft-spoken, kind mother who home-schooled her children.
Clarissa Ceran is a student at BYU studying dance, which makes her leg injuries all the more difficult, Kofford said. She is scheduled to undergo an MRI today.
"She had the whole car wrapped around her legs," Kofford said. "It was a twist of metal."
