TX: 15-year-old killed in hunting accident

April 24, 2010

Teen victim to be remembered during memorial service Saturday

A friend of a teen-age boy who died in a hunting accident earlier this week has organized a memorial service this weekend to remember Devin Taylor.

Taylor, 16, died in a hunting accident Monday night near Enterprise.

Matthew Kooser, 15, a freshman at Abilene High School, said the memorial service will be from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday in the rose garden in Eisenhower Park.

Kooser will give the opening remarks and Abilene students Katie Burnett and Tanner Davis will address those in the audience. Kooser said there will be a time for others to talk and express their feelings and share stories.

Pastor Stan Norman will be there to pray and give spiritual guidance.

At 9:30 p.m., candles will be lit and a prayer offered and those who plan to attend can socialize and reminisce.

Those who want to attend should bring a candle and lawn chair or blanket.

Kooser's face lit up when asked about Devin. "He was really squirrelly," Kooser said and broke out with a smile. "He was always joking about something, but Devin never meant any harm."

Taylor was always optimistic and when his friends got down he always was there to lend comfort and encouragement, Kooser said.

"Devin was a good athlete," Kooser said. "He could spin a basketball on his finger and he could let it spin for an hour."

His friend liked to hunt.

"I know it was a complete accident Monday," Kooser said. "I was pretty shocked when I heard about it. I stayed up in my room and cried for about an hour and a-half."

Kooser said he last saw Taylor after school this past Monday and he had kidded Taylor about his new haircut. Kooser ribbed him pretty good, he remembered.

"I didn't mean anything by it, but I wondered what his last thoughts of me were. I'm definitely a lot more careful about what I?have to say."

He wanted to organize a memorial service for his friend so that other friends could have closure.

"We wanted to do this not only for ourselves but for the community and high school," Kooser said. "Devin was a friend to everyone. He never said anything bad to anyone. He did so much for all of us. He was the ultimate friend.".

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