Perryville teen dance to raise funds for Orman family funeral expenses

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Teens in Perryville will have the opportunity to let loose and dance weeks after coping with the death of a peer.

"We're planning on letting them express their feelings and have a good time," Kelly Yates said.

Yates is holding a teen dance fundraiser in honor of her sister, Jamie Orman, and her nephew, Derrick Orman, who was a student at Perryville High School.

Jamie Orman and her 15-year-old son were killed Oct. 27 in Cape Girardeau. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the murder.

Yates said the dance will "give everyone a chance to breathe."

"Derrick would like us to have fun and so would Jamie," she said.

Proceeds from the event will help pay for funeral expenses. Yates said the funds will help relieve some financial burden for the rest of the family.

"My sister wanted her boys taken care of," she said. Jamie Orman is survived by two other sons ages 14 and 9. Both were in the house at the time of the homicide but not injured.

Yates said outreach from the community has been a comfort. She said support has come from as far away as Newport News, Va., where one of her other sisters lives. A skate shop there donated a basket of skate gear to raffle off during the dance.

"You always know you have friends and people out there, but you don't realized it until something like this happens," she said.

She said students are excited about the dance and got the message out the best they could.

"Of course the kids have sent text messages and spread the word that way," she said.

She said Derrick Orman's father, Bruce Orman, is also planning to hold an adult benefit dance Dec. 5 at the Eagles Club in Perryville.

The dance will be at the Perryville Armory from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday. Admission is $6. Yates said the event is primarily for students in seventh to 12th grade, but it is open to students of all ages from area schools.

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Pertinent address:

1224 N. Missouri Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO

Perryville, MO