Scores turn out at vigil to mourn loss of popular teen
Caroline Huss was remembered as a “sweetheart,” “a great kid,” “funny and with a great sense of humor” at a candlelight vigil held Thursday, Dec. 26, on the Sweet Home High School soccer field to pay tribute to the 16-year-old who was killed the previous Sunday in a car crash.
A crowd of approximately 150 students, and Caroline’s parents, family and soccer teammates gathered for nearly an hour under a goal post in the heavy fog that blanketed the field in the cold darkness, warmed by candles and memories of the high school junior whose influence, as one organizer put it, was “obvious from the turnout.”
Ramiro Santana, Caroline’s soccer coach at Sweet Home High School, said what was echoed by others throughout the evening:: “I will miss her. I already am.”
The vigil was organized by Sierra Cuevas, 16, Caroline’s best friend, and her mother, Lisa Cuevas.
Lisa Cuevas spoke to the crowd assembled at the vigil about how Caroline positively affected those around her.
Whether you knew her or not, she either shared a smile or a ‘Hi’ or just a glance, but it was always positive,” Cuevas said.
Unfortunately, sometimes the people who are the best are the ones who are taken. But because they are the best, they carry on and we don’t forget. If Caroline was somebody that people didn’t like. This place would be empty right now. But that’s not the case. Everybody came out here because they love her. And she’s worth it.”
She urged the attendees to remember who the deceased was to them and emulate her.”
We can be like Caroline, even if it’s a smile or a joke. She’ll know. She’ll smile down on us.”
Caroline died at about 2:50 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, when the 1999 Chevrolet Suburban she was driving westbound on Highway 228, near milepost 8, cross the center line on a curve to the right and was struck on the left side by an east-bound tow truck, Oregon State Police said.
Her aunt, Holly Shafer of Redmond, said Caroline and her mother, Angela Huss, 37, were en route to pick up her brother when the accident happened. She said Caroline, who didn’t appreciate spiders, thought she saw one in a corner of the vehicle and momentarily flinched, causing the vehicle to swerve into the oncoming lane.
All those times when we go, ‘That was close,’ – it actually happened this time,” Shafer said. “You’re in control of a vehicle. You’re driving several tons of metal down the road.”
We wanted people to know it was an accident,” Lisa Cuevas said of the crash, which has generated a variety of rumors via social media. “People assume the worst. We wanted them to know who she was.”
Caroline’s mother spoke briefly at the vigil, reiterating what others said about her daughter’s effect on others.
You didn’t have to be her best friend for her to care about you,” Angela Huss said. “She cared about everyone. And we’re going to miss her terribly. I guess good things can come out of bad things. I just hope everyone remembers to takes the time to show love to to each other, who you have in your life. And to be kind. Because terrible things can happen – just like that.”
Caroline’s younger sister Rachel also spoke to the assembly, tearfully recalling some conversations she’d had about death with her sister.
I remember six years ago, she said if she ever dies young, we should be happy and not sad. I know she will be playing soccer in heaven.”
Jeff Parker, who coached Caroline on the junior varsity team before she moved up to varsity this past season, said his former player “was taken from us way, way too soon. Like others, he remembered her as a happy-go-lucky girl – but who could talk seriously as well.
Caroline was simply Caroline,” Parker said. “She didn’t change who she was because of where she was. Her life was an open book and it was a good one.”
He recalled a conversation he’d had with her on the way home on the bus from a soccer game:
She said to me, ‘We just need to remember that life is way too fragile and short to be wasting time on the things that don’t matter.’ I hope you guys can just focus on the fun and good times that you had with her.
Teammate Ashley Wickline told how, when she was injured while playing on the junior high-aged girls soccer team as a seventh-grader, Caroline made her feel included after the team won a championship, though she couldn’t play.
The vigil ended with a huddle by Caroline’s soccer teammates.
Santana said he plans to ask the school to allow his team to wear Caroline’s number 8 on their uniforms next season in her memory.
Thank you for the good times I have had with her. We will do our best as a girls soccer team to do our best in her name.”