Cedar City remembers 10 crash victims

CEDAR CITY — Words of comfort, songs of wisdom and thoughts of love were all showered on the surviving relatives and friends of the 10 people killed in a plane crash near Moab last Friday.

Thousands of people gathered on the campus of Southern Utah University to mourn and celebrate the lives of those who died. Bigger-than-life portraits of the victims were displayed on the stage, overlooking more than 180 family members who sat in rows on the floor of the Centrum Arena.

"Mourning is one of the deepest and most profound expressions of love," said SUU President Michael Benson, whose remarks were punctuated with pauses while he struggled with his emotions. "Our community has banded together in our grief. We have forged stronger bonds because of our attendance tonight."

Benson was one of several speakers at the special memorial who shared poignant memories of those who lost their lives: Dallin Ellsworth, Lansing Ellsworth, Cecilee Goddard, David Goddard, Valerie Imlay, Mandy Johnson, Keith Shumway, Marci Tillery, Camie Vigil and David White.

Nine were employees of Red Canyon Aesthetics and Medical Spa dermatology clinic, while White was the aircraft's pilot.

Dane Leavitt, whose firm co-owned the aircraft with the clinic, spoke of his grief upon hearing news of the crash and of the conflicting emotions that followed.

"I feel like you. I feel a resolve to help," said Leavitt. "These last six days have given me a unique window to this tragedy. While it is deeply saddening, it is also filled with light. I have seen families in the depth of mourning reach out to others."

Dr. Robert Nakken, an orthopedic surgeon, reminisced about his longtime friend, Dr. Lansing Ellsworth.

"He enjoyed the simple things in life, like milkshakes," Nakken said. "When I think of what makes our community great, it's the people. In talking to many people about this tragedy, they say, 'it must be a dream,' or wonder, 'why, why did it happen?'"

Tragedies like these are pivotal moments in our lives, he said.

"This is our challenge, in their absence. We can only reconcile this tragedy by the way we live our lives," Nakken said.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. also spoke, noting personal accomplishments or unique personality traits of those who died.