Friday, August 8, 2008

Haylie Rochelle VanAlstine


Vancleave student was looking forward to second grade

Posted by MemoriesAlways staff
PASCAGOULA -- Haylie VanAlstine, 7, died July 29, 2008, during an automobile accident that also killed her parents, Phillip and Shyla VanAlstine, in Baton Rouge, La.

She would have begun second grade at Vancleave Lower Elementary School on Aug. 6, and was looking forward to the new year, according to reports from district teachers.

Haylie's younger sister, 4-year-old Kaytie, was in critical condition following the four-vehicle wreck on Interstate 12. She was taken to Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in Baton Rouge.
Their youngest sister, 11-month-old Avery, was at home with relatives.

Vancleave Family Killed in Car Crash Laid to Rest
http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=8787040

The VanAlstines, residents of Vancleave in Jackson County, reportedly were on their way to an outing to celebrate the end of summer vacation before Haylie would have started second grade at Vancleave Lower Elementary School.

Their mother, Shyla VanAlstine, was gearing up to return to the classroom at Vancleave High, where she was an English instructor and chairman of the English Department at Vancleave Attendance Center, one of three campuses within the Jackson County School District.

During a district Back-to-School Rally on Aug. 1, teachers and other personnel conducted a memorial observance for their colleague and her family, according to school district officials.

According to reports from media outlets in South Mississippi and Louisiana, the wreck that killed the three family members occurred about 9:30 a.m. that Tuesday when 55-year-old Ruth A. Fort of Baton Rouge rear-ended the VanAlstine's van. The fenders got caught, causing the van to spend before it was hit by a sanitation truck.

Fort was also injured and, initially, had been expected to be charged in the deaths once she had left the hospital. However, media outlets recently reported Lousiana law officials have said they have insufficient evidence to file charges. Those officials have said Fort, of Baton Rouge, was tailgating the VanAlstines' vehicle when the wreck took place July 29.

After a visitation attended by approximately 2,200 people Sunday, Aug. 3, in Pascagoula, and funeral services Aug. 4 at St. Paul United Methodist Church East Campus in Ocean Springs, Haylie and her parents were laid to rest at Biloxi National Cemetery.

Phillip VanAlstine was a 17-year member of the Army National Guard. He had recently served a year in Iraq.
Tragedy ended summer outing
Thursday, July 31, 2008 @ www.2theadvocate.com

Haylie Rochelle VanAlstine, 7, of Vancleave died July 29, 2008, from injuries sustained in an automobile crash. She was born Sept. 22, 2000, in Pascagoula to the late Phillip and Shyla VanAlstine Jr., and was a lifelong resident of Jackson County.

Haylie had just completed first grade at Vancleave Lower Elementary School and was looking forward to second grade. She was a great student and received many awards in her class this past year. She enjoyed reading and playing softball, and loved being a big sister.

Survivors include sisters Kaytie Carson VanAlstine and Avery Noel VanAlstine, both of Vancleave; maternal grandparents Jerry and Patricia Isaacson of Lucedale; paternal grandparents Phillip and Carol VanAlstine Sr. of Gautier; uncles Steven L. VanAlstine of Gautier and Jerrell Isaacson and his wife Rebecca of Beaumont, Texas; two aunts Lori Poiroux and her husband Mark of Mobile, Ala., and Tanya Derry and her husband Elmer of Butler, Mo.

Visitation for friends and community was Aug. 3 at O’Bryant-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula. Funeral services were Aug. 4 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on U.S. 90 in Ocean Springs. Interment was at Biloxi National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Shyla VanAlstine Memorial Scholarship Fund, Vancleave High School, 4724 Bulldog Lane, Vancleave, MS 39565
(Photo courtesy of O'Bryant-O'Keefe Funeral Home)

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