Coyote TV - High Desert Advocate

City Grieves For Luke Gregory

Written by Howard Copelan

Friday, 30 July 2010

Luke Gregory 2000-2010

He is Gone

You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Submitted by WWES Principal Dawn Hagness
author unknown

story continues below

        The tragic death of a 10-year-old Luke Gregory shook Wendover this week.
    Gregory who would have been entering the 5th grade at West Wendover Elementary died of an accidental gunshot wound at his home Friday evening.
    According to West Wendover Police sergeant David Wiskerchen, police and Emergency medical crews were summoned to the home at around 7:30 Friday evening, by a frantic 911 call.
    The boy was still alive when police and EMT’s arrived.
    “When investigators arrived, they discovered a male juvenile had sustained a single gunshot wound. “ Wiskerchen wrote in his press release. “Rescue personnel began medical intervention and rushed the male to an awaiting medical helicopter; however, the juvenile succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival at an unknown Utah hospital.”
    “The West Wendover Police Department conducted an investigation into this matter and determined that the incident is a terrible tragedy and there appears to be no evidence of any criminal involvement.” Wiskerchen continued. “The West Wendover Police Department is deeply saddened by this unfortunate event and wishes to extend their deepest condolences to the family.”
    News of the tragedy spread swiftly through the community. Sunday night upwards of 300 people gathered to mourn the loss of the boy at the West Wendover Elementary School.
    “It was really something to see just how many people care for this little boy.” Said Karen Shepherd a co-worker of father Shawn Gregory at the West Wendover Recreation District. “He touched so many lives in so short a time.”
    Son of WWES teacher Melissa Gregory and West Wendover Recreation Center Director Shawn Gregory, Luke was described as a wonderful boy. A gifted athlete, Luke Gregory was one of just a handful of WWES students to pass the grueling Presidential Physical Fitness test this year.
    The Presidential Physical Fitness Award recognizes students who achieve an outstanding level of physical fitness. Boys and girls who score at or above the 85th percentile on all five events: Curl-ups, Shuttle run, Endurance run/walk, Pull-ups, V-sit reach are eligible for this award.

Thursday thousands of mourners attend the boys funeral and gravesite services. He was bruried at the Wendover Cemetary.

Luke Gregory is survived by parents Shawn and Melissa , grand parents Phillip and Raelynn; Amy & Jack Eliot, Joe and Laurie Truljilio and older brother Logan Gregory.