ACCIDENT KILLS 7-YEAR-OLD BOY

Clayton Huey looked forward to his trip to Jefferson City Monday, where he was to pass on a state honor, tour the capital and maybe meet the governor.

But 7-year-old Clayton died early Friday morning after darting out in front of a car on Broadway near Capaha Park Thursday evening.

Hours after his death, a small cross was placed along Broadway near the site of the accident. A crisis counseling team talked with youngsters at Franklin Elementary School and Clayton's parents made funeral arrangements instead of travel plans.

Clayton had been the "Missouri Child of the Year," an award presented by the Missouri Statewide Parent Advisory Network and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. He was slated to give the award to this year's recipient Monday.

Clayton had attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Over the past couple of years, he had made tremendous strides in coping with the disorder.

His parents, Lisa and Charles Huey, were so proud of his accomplishments they nominated Clayton for the state award, which is given to a child with a mental illness.

"Despite Clayton's mental challenges, he is the most cheerful, loving child you would every want to meet," his mother wrote in the nomination letter. "Clayton tells me `Mom, it's my job to keep everyone happy.' He loves doing nice things for others and it raises his own self-esteem with every good deed he does."

In addition to his parents, Clayton received help from a support team of educators and counselors.

The goal, said counselor Barb Mayfield with the Community Counseling Center was to allow Clayton to live a life like any other 7 year old.

"He lived with his parents and brothers, went to school every day and did well academically," she said. "He was involved in Scouting and other community activities."

The strategy was working, his first-grade teacher Tammy Raddle said.

When Clayton arrived for first grade, Raddle met a shy, quiet boy who was sometimes moody and didn't interact much with anyone. This spring Clayton was like a different child, she said.

"He was playing with the other kids, laughing," Raddle said. "His family had worked hard. We worked hard at school. Everything was clicking. We made plans for next year and I knew he was going to do well.

"We feel so sad for all his lost potential," she said. "We mourn for what could have been."

Friday morning some classmates knew Clayton had been in a car accident and planned among themselves to make get well cards. When Raddle told them Clayton was dead, the youngsters decided to channel their grief into sympathy cards for Clayton's parents.

The first graders carefully printed messages like "I'm sorry" "I love Clayton" and "He will be OK in heaven," then decorated the construction paper cards with crayon drawings. One youngster taped a nickel to his card. He wanted to do something to help his friend's family.

Ruth Kasten, who teaches Reading Recovery, worked with Clayton this year. "He has done marvelously," she said. Not only was he reading at the same level as classmates, Kasten also saw positive changes in Clayton's behavior.

Recently after a session with Kasten he left to return to his first grade class. "Then I felt these two little arms around my waist," Kasten said. "He gave me a great big hug and said, `Bye Mrs. Kasten. I love you.'

"These little lives are so fragile and gone so quickly," Kasten said. "But Clayton has left a lot of good memories for me."

Tim Ward, counselor at Franklin, faced the task of helping students and staff cope with Clayton's death. He called on the school's crisis plan and other counselors to help.