Death of girl has classmates in mourning

Kaelyn McGill loved singing in the choir, roller skating with friends, playing outside and reading.

And when news of the 8-year-old's death made its way around Alma Schrader Elementary Monday morning, the school came to a virtual standstill, with children and staff crying and comforting one another.

Kaelyn died Sunday at St. Francis Medical Center from injuries she received in a head-on collision on East Jackson Blvd. in Jackson, Mo.

The Jackson Police Department is investigating what made an eastbound car swerve into oncoming traffic and cause a chain reaction accident that involved three other cars.

Kaelyn's parents, James and Sheila McGill of Cape Girardeau, and her 4-year-old sister, Taylor, were also injured in the accident but released from the hospital later Sunday.

James McGill said Kaelyn was the best daughter a parent could have.

"Everybody wanted to be around her," he said with a shaky voice. "There wasn't anybody who didn't like her."

McGill said his daughter was a dancer, a Girl Scout and had just recently taken up gymnastics.

"Her younger sister is going to be totally lost without her now," he said.

Alma Schrader principal Frank Ellis and counselor Julia Unnerstall Burrows walked from classroom to classroom Monday morning to share the news of Kaelyn's death with her peers.

"The kids saw a different side of me today," Ellis said. "This is something that has never happened to me before as a principal. When these kids are with me, they are my responsibility. I feel like they are my kids."

'I couldn't get through it'

Ellis said when he was so overcome with emotions in Kaelyn's class he leaned on Unnerstall Burrows for strength.

"I'm so thankful we have her here," he said. "The first class was so difficult, I couldn't get through it."

After Ellis and Unnerstall Burrows visited each classroom, they invited the children who needed to talk or share their feelings to the cafeteria to talk with counselors from Clippard and Blanchard elementary schools.

Ellis said about 14 boys and girls spent time with the counselors. Some were Kaelyn's neighbors and friends. Others were members of her Girl Scout troop.

"The girls in the Scout troop were torn apart within their hearts," he said. "They had to go and talk with someone."

Unnerstall Burrows said most of the children were coping with Kaelyn's death well, expressing how they already deeply miss their friend. As she spoke with the children, she encouraged them to talk about it at home with their parents.

To help calm the children, she also brought her brother's pet bunny Wilson to school.

"Sometimes it's good to have a furry friend," she said as she walked around each classroom, letting the children pet Wilson. "Pets can show you a lot of love, and they're really good listeners too."

Unnerstall Burrows said she will be available to the children throughout the week as they continue to cope with the loss of their friend.

Visitation for Kaelyn will be Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The Rev. Ron Watts will officiate.

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128