A speech for Kelsey by Steve Campbell

I was Kelsey’s middle school soccer coach, so I knew her from that fairly narrow perspective. But I could tell from the first week of 7th grade that she was different.  I can’t really define different, but I mean it in the most complimentary way possible.  Kelsey was quirky and goofy and funny, all in a way that seemed to make the other girls want to be around her to share in the fun.  Whatever “it” is that I can’t define, I know Kelsey had more of it than most people I have met.

Everyone talks about Kelsey’s smile.  I think Kelsey’s real gift was that she made people around her want to smile as brightly as she did.   I know that for 2 years she made me smile, most of the time shaking my head as I was doing it, but still smiling the whole time.

It is unusual to think about learning things from a 14 yr old, but that is what happened with Kelsey.  There are many moments in a day, a week, to be thankful for, but Kelsey showed me how not just to be thankful but to be joyous for those moments.

Bill and Lori, I miss your kid.   We won’t forget her