NEWS

Community vigil remembers Taylor

Barrett Lawlis
Reporter

NEWARK - Community and family members gathered to remember and comfort the family of Taylor Gartner at a candlelight vigil Tuesday night.

Around 400 people arrived at McGuffey Elementary School before 7 p.m. to collect their candles and remember the life of Taylor, who died Nov. 27 at age 7 of neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer that had spread throughout her body.

"It was tough to see her with all those wires and machines attached to her at the end," said Taylor's grandmother, Sandy Cochran. "In the end, the tumors just took over."

The crowd gathered by the track at McGuffey, spreading around three-fourths of the distance on the track. Taylor's family stood on the field together, members holding candles with letters attached spelling her name. Her grandfather, Tim Cochran, led the ceremony.

"We just wanted to say thank you to everyone here tonight. We are astonished by just how much support you gave to us, and to Taylor," he said. "It really meant a lot to her, and it means a lot to us now."

Cochran asked that those with kids or grandkids give them a big hug and kiss from Taylor.

"The family would like to thank you for all you've done for Taylor. We ask that you continue to fight for others with cancer," he said.

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The crowd came in off of the track and gathered closer to the family. Cochran lead them through one verse of "Amazing Grace." The family released a set of paper lanterns, then prayed with the crowd.

"There was more to Taylor than sick Taylor, the Taylor most of you knew," said her aunt, Janet Gartner. "She was always laughing, always happy."

"Taylor made me a better person, she brought me back to the Lord," family friend Ali Cotton said. "She would have thought these candles tonight were just the coolest thing ever."

"Taylor just touched everyone who read her story," Sandy Cochran said. "She didn't have an enemy in the world. All the kids loved her."

"She could look at you for about three minutes and just know who you were, know your personality," Tim Cochran said. "We always said she was going to be a politician."

Sandy Cochran said that although Taylor didn't have a mother of her own growing up, she would go out of her way to try and "mother the little kids."

"While she was being treated at Children's Hospital, Taylor and her father would go up one floor to visit a little girl with brain cancer," Sandy Cochran said.

"I believe that Taylor was an angel. All the proof you need are all these people who came to support her family," Tim Cochran said. "How else could you explain how a 7-year-old touched so many lives?"

blawlis@gannett.com

740-328-8822

Twitter: @BarrettLawlis

How to help

What: Time Stood Still is holding a fundraiser for the family of Taylor Gartner

When: 4 to 8 p.m. Friday

Where: United Steelworkers Local 341 Hall, 2100 James Parkway, Heath

FYI: All proceeds will go towards funeral, burial and medical expenses. Pizza will be served for $1 a slice and drinks will be $1 each. There will be several prizes to be raffled as well as a 50-50 drawing. The raffle and 50-50 drawing will take place at 7 p.m. There also will be face painting available for the kids and baked goods for donations.