In Loving Memory of Kailee Clapp

Posted: 2:52 PM Jan 26, 2011


The city of McCook gathered by the hundreds to honor and remember Kailee Clapp.

The 14-year-old was discovered missing Friday morning. Local authorities said they found a body believed to be hers later that night.

"We know that Kailee will always be with us. We miss her lovely smile," Kailee's aunt, Sherry Clappison, said through tears.

The broken community came together in her memory Tuesday night.

"Every time she saw me, she'd try and tackle me," Mike Kendall, Kailee's cousin, said. "It never worked."

They shared their favorite moments with Kailee.

"I just miss her so much," Kendall said.

The crowd gathered by the hundreds to celebrate her life.

"We know that she's in a better place right now. God just has her wrapped around his arms," Clappison said.

Kailee's family said they find hope in the midst of this tragedy, through their faith.

"She will always be in spirit, everyday, with us. We love you baby," Clappison said.

Volunteers passed out roses to represent Kailee's spirit. Many wore pajama pants, they said it was her favorite thing to wear.

"It's just gonna be really hard, it's gonna be way different. Everything's gonna change," Laura Clapp, Kailee's cousin, said.

Kailee's friends said some of their favorite memories with her were singing and dancing together. They ended the night by doing just that, and hoping she was watching.

"We'll still love her. She'll never be forgotten," Laura Clapp said.

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Kailee Clapp

Candlelight glow fills Norris Park

McCOOK, Nebraska -- To a family stricken with unfathomable grief and to a community shaken by anger and a feeling of helplessness, the warm glow of hundreds of candles lighting McCook's Norris Park Tuesday evening offered a promise.
A promise of friendship, of comfort, of a hug.

A promise that the life of Kailee Nicole Clapp had purpose.

A promise of healing in the arms of God.

A promise that Kailee, whose life was senselessly snatched from her and her family, is safe within the arms of God.

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A speaker offers words of comfort and prayer to Kelly and Nora Clapp and their daughter, Karen, left, and son, Nick, right, after the death of their daughter and sister, Kailee Nicole Clapp. Hundreds of friends held lighted candles during a vigil in Norris Park Tuesday evening, and were moved to tears by the message of the song, "I Can Only Imagine," sung by Roger Cooper of Alton, Kansas.

Thursday, January 27, 2011
Dawn Cribbs
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(Photo)
Services were delayed 20 minutes while mourners crowded into Memorial Auditorium for this morning's funeral services for 14-year-old Kailee Clapp.
(Dawn Cribbs/McCook Daily Gazette)

It's OK to ask why.

It's OK to cry.

And it's OK to hope.

This was the thrust of the message delivered today by the Rev. Bruce Lester, at the memorial service for 14-year-old Kailee Clapp, while across town, 18-year-old Stathis Sebastian Mobley Kirkpatrick was charged with her murder.

The service was delayed for more than 20 minutes in order to allow every one to find a seat in the filled-to-capacity auditorium.

"There is no way to spin the circumstances of Kailee's death," Lester admitted. And the questions it prompts do not have any easy answers.

"What we can know is that somehow, someway, someday, God can and God will, through this unspeakable tragedy, work good in all of our lives. Someday."

Photo montages of Kailee's life, set to music, gave mourners glimpses of a girl who loved to dance, loved to sing, "loved to run around in her pjs, singing and dancing."A handful of friends and Kailee's sister Karen spoke about the hugs they will miss, the memories they will cherish and the love they will always have for "my best friend."

"She had an ornery streak," Lester shared with a smile. " And every once in a while her little horns would pop up. But they didn't stay out long."

"This is why you're here today," said Lester. "because of this special young lady. Because she has touched all of our lives."

Death is part of the human experience, Lester said, and "Jesus talked about death a lot." He didn't hide from it, but acknowledged the power of the pain that death, at whatever age, brings. Death causes humans to ask a lot of questions, to question even what they understand about God. "Where was God on Thursday night?" Lester asked. "Why do bad things happen to good people, to young people? Why did it happen to Kailee?"

"Why?" is the most natural question humans can ask, according to Lester. Created in the image of God, we think, we reason, we create, we explore and we, unique among all of God's creation, have been given the ability to choose.

"God wanted us to choose to love; him and one another," Lester said. And so we choose. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Sometimes right, sometimes wrong.

"We live in the consequences of our choices, and the choices that others make," Lester continued.

Ask the questions, he said. God can handle the questions. But while you're asking, while you're waiting for an answer remember the story of hope in John Chapter 11.

Lazarus, like Kailee, had a lot of friends. And Jesus was one of them. Lazarus became deathly ill and his sisters, Mary and Martha, sent for Jesus, saying, "the one you love is ill." Yet, even though Jesus was only a day away, he delayed his departure and arrived in Bethany only after Lazarus had been dead four days.

Not surprisingly, the sisters had some hard questions for the Lord, each stating in her own words, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died."

It sounds accusatory, as if it was Jesus' fault that Lazarus died, said Lester. "And you may be wondering the same thing today about Kailee's death."

Jesus didn't condemn the women for asking the question, for wrestling with what they knew of Jesus, his power to heal and to save, but he answers them with his next action. "He wept."

For some reason God chose not to intervene then or on Thursday night. God knows pain, he knows what it's like to lose a child. Lester assured those gathered, "he wants to walk with you, he wants walks with all of us. Remember his promise, 'I am the resurrection and the life.'"

We have a skewed vision of reality, Lester warned. We think this is the land of the living and when we die, we enter the land of the dead.

"It's reversed," he said. "This world is all about dying and entering into life eternal."

"Jesus loved children," Lester said, sharing the passage in Mark when he calls the children to himself and blesses them. "And Jesus loves Kailee."

Lester shared the joy that Kailee shared with her mother, Nora, two years ago, when she came home from youth group.

Quoting Kailee, Lester said, "Mom, I know that when I die, I'm going to heaven!"

She knew that, he explained, because she had just made the most important decision anyone can ever make.

Kailee knew the promise of Jesus. The promise he gave in the 14th chapter of John. "I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am there you also will be."

Lester offered everyone the opportunity to make that "most important decision" and closed, thanking God for his presence, for the peace that only he can give and for the promise that only he can fulfill.

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wow where do i begin i was only three when i met her, i remember when we were little i was a 6 and she was 3 she used to sit on my lap and go backwards i used to tickle her until she came back up. When we went to the pool she would always ride on my back in the deep end. We fought alot but we always said sorry really quick. When i was a little older kailee would want to be everywhere i was, even if i stayed at my friends she would stay too. then i hated the idea but now that i look back on that i am glad i got to share those memories with her.Kailee had a very specail heart she loved almost everyone, but did she have a temper on her, we used to tell her when she got mad she grew horns, but the funny thing was is that she didnt stay mad for long, she loved to be around people loved to eat eventhough she wouldnt gain a pound.When she finally got into high school she had sooo many friends too many to even count, she was so beautiful and she failed to see it, i was even lucky to have her in my art class, she was very talented. She had to write an autobio about her life so far, in the end eveyone had to write what they wanted to be when they grew up and when i was reading it after my sister passed i was almost certin it was going to say a photographer, but it said When i grow up i want to be just like my big sister Karen. To know that was a wonderful feeling but to know that after she passed was heartbreaking.there is so much i could say about her and i can olny wrap it up with this. Her attitude of life was out of this world, a personallity that came from up above, she was not ment to stay on this world for long but in 14 years she touched a whole community, evenutally a whole country and hopefully a whole world with her story.

Oh, Karen, you have a talent! Every word of that post, perfect, touching...my heart is racing, my tears are flowing, such a beautiful tribute to your sister! Thank you for sharing!

KaileesBigSister wrote: When i grow up i want to be just like my big sister Karen.

That choked me up! When you're feeling down that memory of how your little sister felt about you will bring a smile to your face for the rest of your life.

When i grow up i want to be just like my big sister Karen.

That was an awesome tribute your Sister left you with.
I feel your loss. I am so glad you are here on VH with us.

What a wonderful post Karen !!!

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this shows alot of my sisters personallity i hope those who watch will not take this seariously this was taped when kai was like 12 so they are girls just being girls but it show kailees personality really well
For those who want to see her personality show this is a good video

One more thing those who are following this on january 25th 2012 we are having a candle light visual for her maybe u could light a single candle for her and just say somthing for her or maybe for us or our family or maybe just maybe be silent just for a moment that would be amazing

I just read through this thread and saw the above that Karen posted. Candles will be lit, that is a guarantee.

She was so beautiful and just re-reading this thread and watching the NG clips reminds me that life is short and to keep our thoughts positive, our words gentle and be kind..cause we never know when our loved ones will leave us behind.