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)

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Trust Fund Established for VanAlstine daughters

For Kaytie and Avery ...

A trust fund has been established at Hancock Bank for Kaytie and Avery VanAlstine, children of the late Phillip and Shyla Van Alstine of Vancleave.

Contributions may be made at any Hancock branch. They also may be mailed to Hancock Bank, P.O. Box 4019, Gulfport, MS 39502. Residents may contact James Reeves at 374-5151 for more information.

The trust fund is in the name of Kaytie and Avery VanAlstine.

(The Shyla VanAlstine Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established at Vancleave High School, 4724 Bulldog LaneVancleave, MS 39565)

Kaytie, 4, was with her family July 29 when her mother, Shyla, father Phillip, and older sister Haylie, 7, were killed in a four-vehicle wreck on Interstate 12 in Baton Rouge, La. The Vancleave family was returning home from an outing meant to celebrate the end of summer vacation and the start of the 2008-2009 school year.

Kaytie was critically injured and remains hospitalized at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge.

The family's 11-month-old daughter Avery was at home with relatives at the time of the crash.

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

Outpouring for Vancleave family killed in crash


Thousands attend visitation for VanAlstines

Posted by Memories Always staff
PASCAGOULA – The line of students, district teachers and officials at the Vancleave Attendance Center stretched unceasingly it seemed outside the funeral home Aug. 3 where respects were paid to the Van Alstine family members killed July 29 in a vehicular wreck.

That line inside O'Bryant-O'Keefe Funeral Home on Telephone Road also curved around the chapel room and down the hall into the parlor for the closed-casket memorial.

On Aug. 6, General Manager William Wilmoth said approximately 2,200 people attended the service for 14-year English teacher Shyla VanAlstine, her husband Phillip, and their 7-year-old daughter Haylie.

Hal Holmes, superintendent at Vancleave Attendance Center, said the loss was hard.

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

The faces of family, friends, colleagues and residents of Vancleave and from across Jackson County were somber. Numerous ones wept openly, comforted by others also grieving the loss of the three Vancleave residents. Everyone waited patiently in the evening sun.

Inside they signed an extended banner that offered get-well wishes to 4-year-old Kaytie, who still is in critical condition at Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in Baton Rouge, La. Wilmoth said the banner stretched over 60 feet.

Wilmoth said about 800 people attended funeral services Aug. 4 at St. Paul United Methodist Church East Campus in Ocean Springs, located at U.S. 90 and Mississippi 57.
American Legion members and active members of the Army National Guard also attended in honor of Phillip VanAlstine's 17-year service in the military, including a year in Iraq.

Holmes must now replace a 14-year instructor who was head of the English Department at Vancleave Attendance Center. She also had been girls volley ball coach about 10 years.
Bill Feig/The Advocate
July 29, 2008 --- Tragedy comes to Jackson County with crash in Louisiana that takes the lives of three Vancleave residents -- National Guard member Phillip VanAlstine, his wife Shyla, a 14-year English teacher, and their oldest daughter, 7-year-old Haylie.

Christine Elizabeth Roberts

Photo unavailable

Christine Elizabeth Roberts
, 2, of Carriere died June 10, 2008.

A memorial service was held June 14 at Resurrection Life Worship Center.

Picayune Funeral Home handled service arrangements.

MemoriesAlways: This posting will be updated at a later date.

Chase Cummings Hensley

Chase Cummings Hensley, 23, of Ocean Springs died Tuesday, June 3, 2008.

A memorial service was held June 6 at Biloxi National Cemetery, followed by a celebration of his life at the Fountainbleau Community Center.

Chase was born Oct. 26, 1984, in Las Vegas, where he was reared until his family moved to Ocean Springs in 1998. He was a member of the National Guard Airborne.

Survivors include daughter Abby Brennan-Hensley, parents Bob and Vicki Hensley, sister Amanda Williams, brother Cameron Hensley, uncle and aunt Dave and Debbie Cummings, and grandmother Avis Morton.

He also will be remembered by many friends whose lives he touched.

In lieu of flowers, the family established a scholarship fund for Hensley's daughter, Abby, at Keesler Federal Credit Union.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, and residents viewed and signed a register book at bradfordokeefe.com

Summer tragedy: 5-year-old drowns

Raindy S. Soth, 5, of Gulfport died Monday, June 2, 2008, during an accidential drowning at Dedeaux Park in Gulfport.

Arrangements by Riemann Family Funeral Home in Gulfport. Access www.riemannfamily.com


MemoriesAlways: This posting will be updated at a later date.