A simple oak casket, covered with a beautiful spray of pink, red and white flowers, rested solemnly in the sanctuary of Nappanee Missionary Church Saturday.

A picture of a young girl, with a generous smile and twinkling blue eyes was nestled near the spray of flowers — the face of a life taken all too soon.

During a nearly two-hour long funeral service, hundreds of family and friends of Naleta Joy Yoder cried, smiled and comforted each other with stories about the 12-year-old, who was killed Monday in an automobile accident along Ind. 119 while on her way to school with three of her siblings.

These mourners were not alone. Twenty-five miles east of here, two other young people were also laid to rest, victims of similar circumstances.

Brandon Replogle and Amanda Musser, both 18 and seniors at West Noble High School, died Tuesday morning in separate automobile accidents just minutes apart while on their way to school. The services for the two friends, who were involved in theater and speech together, were separated by only a half mile.

Brandon’s visitation and funeral service were held at his home church, Ligonier Evangelical, where a simple message was posted on a sign outside: “Brandon safely home.”

The church is also near the site of Amanda’s accident. Amanda’s visitation and funeral service took place at Stone’s Hill Community Church.

A school bus shuttled students between the two churches during Friday’s visitation as strong winds kicked up snow in adjoining fields, causing the stretch to be covered in snow.

Great smile

These three youth had more in common than the tragedies that befell them.

Naleta, Brandon and Amanda were Christians, active in their church youth groups, had infectious laughter and big hearts.

Friend Kayla Peterson was among the hundreds at both Brandon and Amanda’s visitations Friday wearing a purple ribbon for Amanda and a green ribbon for Brandon, their respective favorite colors.

“You can’t describe Brandon in any type of words,” she said.

While walking down the school’s halls, Brandon wouldn’t just say “Hey,” Peterson said. Instead, he’d greet friends with a staccato “huh-huh-huh-huh.”

Peterson insists Brandon knew every musical. If they would quote a line to him, he’d immediately know which musical it was from. He was also a wonderful artist and was into graphic arts.

Friend Brianna Walton said Brandon had a way of smiling that if he smiled, you smiled.

“They were both really funny,” Peterson said. “They would put their problems aside to make you feel better.”

Walton described Amanda as being very determined.

Peterson said the same about Brandon, describing how she found him decorating the hallway by himself during homecoming, determined to get it done.

“They were both together a lot,” Peterson said. “They did a lot of stuff together.”

One of Walton’s favorite memories was when their theater group went to Chicago to see “Young Frankenstein.” During the train ride there and back, the group just sat and talked, snuggling together.

Both girls recalled the day Amanda was determined to get a video project done for AP video class.

“It was a very stressful but funny day,” Walton laughed. There were problems, she said, and the video had to be done all over again — on the last day of school.

‘It’s great’

During Naleta’s funeral service, her principal, the Rev. Terrill Yoder, said he will miss Naleta’s voice in the hallways at school. She was very caring and friendly, he said, describing how Naleta befriended his daughter Amanda. A moment that stuck with Yoder was about a week and a half ago during play practice when he caught her looking at her brother Layton.

“I remember thinking,” he said, “‘she adores her brother.’ And I think she still does.”

One of Naleta’s teachers said the class was recently discussing what heaven was like and there were many questions. At the time of the accident, the teacher said, he thought Naleta might tell her class, “It’s so much better than our discussion. It’s great.”

He told the hundreds assembled about pillow fights in the reading corner of the class and that Naleta always brought her energy and enthusiasm to it.

Naleta’s friend Maria Neuschwander talked about the time she and Naleta were being chased by a “big, scary rooster” and the dog saved them. “The rooster landed in a garbage can,” she said.

Other friends talked about how Naleta was always so cheerful, how she enjoyed Pizza Hut pizza and how she loved her family.

Toward the end of the time set aside for sharing memories of Naleta, one friend spoke of her pain.

“Half of my heart,” she said, “just drained away.”

The girl said it felt like her whole family was gone, but she knows Naleta is in heaven.

And it’s that assurance that all three families share.

Special relationship

Each had a relationship with Christ and weren’t afraid to share it, according to their friends and family.

“In January we had the privilege to host a work team from our home church here in Argentina,” ToyLeann Mast wrote. “Brandon was a member of that team, which was led by Elroy and Cheryl (Mast). What a joy it was to see how Brandon had grown in stature, as well as in his faith. He was truly a gentleman with a kind, caring spirit and a wonderful sense of humor. … His interest in missions was evident and he and the team worked alongside us scraping, sanding, tiling and painting the inside of our church here in Argentina. His testimony as a Christian was clear and unmistakable to those who knew him.”

High School Principal Nate Lowe, who was also Brandon’s youth group leader, spoke of Brandon’s heart for missions and his trip to Argentina, where he turned 18.

A memorial for Brandon will help student teams do mission work, Lowe said.

Lowe added that Brandon was a deep thinker.

“I talked with him about his relationship with the Lord,” Lowe said. “It’s a good feeling to know he’s going to heaven.”

Many questions

When this past Wednesday came and it was time for the youth group to meet again, Lowe said he considered canceling it. But knowing the kids would have questions, he decided to meet.

“I felt it was real helpful for us to talk,” he said.

For Lowe, both teens were really special. They were freshmen when Lowe was hired as principal at West Noble High School, so he’s watched them come through all four years high school.

Amanda was very involved in Relay for Life, he said. Her involvement was personal as her dad died of cancer when she was very young, Lowe explained. In the past, not many teams were involved from West Noble and it was her desire to have more teams this year. So the class officers are organizing a drive to involve more teams in Relay for Life.

“That’s kind of a neat thing,” Lowe said.

Amanda was also very active in her youth group at Columbia City Church of the Brethren.

God’s hand

When the students of United Christian School returned to school on Thursday there were counselors on hand to help them deal with the tragic news. The staff also received counseling to help them with their feelings and also to understand the stages of grief with children so they are better able to comfort them.

Yoder has been principal of United Christian School for the past three years and he said this isn’t the first time this type of tragedy has struck the small private school. The summer before he was hired another accident claimed the lives of a couple of students.

“We are a Christian school so we believe God has His hand in this, even though we may not understand,” Yoder said. “It’s a tremendous tragedy but we have faith in Him and His understanding and compassion for people.”

—Correspondent Denise Fedorow contributed to this article.