DIDSBURY - Hundreds of people of all ages attended a memorial service Wednesday for a 16-year-old Didsbury boy killed in a single-vehicle rollover accident on Dec 27 that also killed his 14-year-old girlfriend.
Reid Fisher, also known as Reid Holuk, and Lila Morrison died when the pickup truck they were travelling in rolled at the intersection of Township Road 292 and Range Road 14 south of Carstairs.
The crash remain remains under investigation, with police already saying alcohol was not a factor. Police said it appeared neither teen was wearing a seatbelt.
Held at the Didsbury Zion Church, the one-hour service included addresses from Reid’s father Bob Holuk, his sisters Cydney Wickwire and Madisun Fisher/Holuk, as well as the reciting of a letter written by Reid’s mother Rachelle Fisher.
“Reid had a good sense of humour and he treated everyone with respect,” said his father. “The last time I saw Reid was Christmas Eve. He brought Lila with him and we ate snacks and everyone sat around and visited.
“When they left that night we hugged each other and told each other ‘I love you’. They left with smiles on their faces.
“I didn’t know Lila as well as I would have liked but I know Reid truly loved her and they were lucky to have each other.”
He thanked the Didsbury community for the “overwhelming amount support my family has received” since the accident.
“I will be forever thankful to all of you,” he said. “There’s nothing we can say or do to change this tragedy. All we can do is focus on the short time we did have with Reid and remember him for the amazing kid he truly was.”
Holuk concluded with a call for everyone to “please, please, please wear your seatbelts.”
Jolin Fisher-Kopp recited the letter written by Fisher's mother.
“If I could talk to you just one more time and say all the things that I want you to know, this letter would be a book. Oh my son, you were special. I am proud of the man you were going to be.
“You were working hard at everything, the bistro (where he worked), basketball, school, building and fixing, and all the while always having time for your sisters and your relationship with Lila. You had so much on the go but you always had time for everyone and did it with such ease.
“It’s been a week you’ve been gone and I already miss you more than I could have ever fathomed.”
Fisher's sisters Cydney Wickwire and Madisun Fisher/Holuk said he was a well-loved brother to both of them.
Master of Ceremony Paul Beasley said Fisher “will be dearly missed” by family and friends.
The standing-room only service also included a video tribute to Fisher.
The honorary pallbearers were Garrett Meeks, Beau Wickwire, Shae Wickwire, Josh van Vlaanderen, Max Sharkey and Jaxson Hosegood.
A memorial service was held for Morrison at the same Didsbury Zion Church on Dec. 30, with hundreds of friends and family attending to share memories.
GoFundMe pages have been set up to help the Fisher and Morrison families, with more than $30,000 raised as of Wednesday afternoon.
