Alex Paul
She did her best to not stand out in a crowd, but Katelyn “Katie” Reynolds lifted the spirits of any group, leading by example in a quiet way.
Reynolds, a member of the SHHS Class of 2003, died August 17 approximately 2 1/2 miles east of Lebanon while she was driving to work. She was 18 years old.
Several hundred family members, friends and teachers gathered at the Community Chapel amphitheater Thursday to remember the star volleyball player, editor of the Huskian newspaper and classroom aide.
Pastor Steve McGuyre said others told him that when Katie walked into a room, the place lit up. “She was an encourager,” he said. “She was thoughtful, unselfish, kind and genuinely loved others. She was an advocate for the underdog. She was a super hard worker who was a stickler for details.”
Pastor McGuyre said Katie was “looking forward to a few days off before school began.”
He said her senior year of high school was a great one. A boyfriend, the prom and graduation among its highlights.
“She was a team player who rooted for everyone to do well but always let other players shine,” he said.
Anita Hutchins was Katie’s pre-school teacher.
“I remember Katie as a toddler,” Mrs. Hutchins said in a letter. “She was her grandpa Eddie’s true love. I remember him with Katie and her big, beautiful smile. Even back then she tried to please her teachers.”
SHHS business teacher Lynn Ellis had a special bond with Katie. She was his instructional aide.
“She was sweet, kind, innocent, intelligent, shy and quiet,” Ellis said. “She was always happy. She was real. There was no phoniness about her. She was really special.”
Ellis compared Katie to Radar O’Reilly on the MASH TV series. Radar knew instinctively what Colonel Potter needed or wanted before the Colonel ever verbalized it.
“She loved cleanliness and organization,” Ellis said. “She struggled with me and would often work at another desk or clean mine because it was too cluttered.”
Ellis said he will cherish a textbook that Katie helped designate as a teacher’s edition, a note that she wrote to cheer him up just before Christmas break and her senior photo.
“I love Katie like she was my own daughter,” Ellis said.
Volleyball coach Heide Nichol said Katie never wanted to stand out but possessed outstanding athletic talents.
“She really blossomed her senior year,” Coach Nichol said. “She embraced the entire team, especially the floundering sophomores. She motivated others with encouragement and smiles. She treated others kindly and used every ounce of her God-given talents. She was always happy on the court and had high expectations.”
A cousin, Dick Reynolds, said Katie had a work ethic second to none and that made her stand out to coaches.
“She was a silent leader, she led by example and her team loved her,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds said he was angry that God had taken such an outstanding young lady so early but then realized, “He needed another angel.”
He added that Katie and her grandfather, Eddie, who was killed in the 1980s in a logging accident, were now together, having picnics as they did when she was just a toddler.
Katelyn Suzanne Reynolds was born on Nov. 14, 1984 in Corvallis the daughter of Blair and Susanna Carter Reynolds. She lived in Sweet Home her entire life and was part of the fifth generation to attend Holley school. She also attended Hawthorne and Oak Heights.
Katie was editor and photographer with the Huskian and yearbook. She played volleyball, softball and basketball. She was a member of the National Honor Society and had earned her certificates of initial and advanced mastery.
Katie enjoyed riding four-wheelers and pleasing her family.
She attended Community Chapel in Sweet Home.
Katie is survived by her father and stepmother, Blair and Lori Reynolds and mother and stepfather Sue and Randy Tuller, all of Sweet Home; brothers, Kyle Reynolds, Casey Reynolds, Michael Tuller and Nick Easterly, all of Sweet Home; sisters, Holly Reynolds, Lisa Tuller and Sarah Easterly, all of Sweet Home; grandparents, Jean and Wayne Teschner, Beverly Crocker and Douglas Tuller, all of Sweet Home, and Ed and Marian Carter of Albany; great grandparents, George and Ramona Heeter of Sweet Home; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
To commemorate Katie’s life, persons were given balloons in the Husky school colors of green and yellow, that were released at the beginning of the memorial service.
Musical selections for the service were by Patrick Bowler. Private interment was at the Gilliland Cemetery.