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City High community remembers JC Meardon at candlelight vigil
IOWA CITY — Friends and family members of JC Meardon gathered late Wednesday to say goodbye on the field where the 16-year-old City High junior once wore the captain's armband for the school's junior varsity soccer team.
With candles and roses in hand and many dressed in yellow — Meardon's favorite color — hundreds huddled behind a goal singing songs, like 'How He Loves,' 'I Will Not Be Moved' and 'Beautiful Things,' before releasing balloons and sky lanterns and, one by one, sharing memories.
'He could always make people laugh,' said Nick Pechous, a student at Regina High School but a member of Meardon's soccer club team in Iowa City. 'He made me laugh more than enough and really anyone who was with him would laugh.'
Jackson Charles 'JC' Meardon died Tuesday at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after being struck by a minivan around 10:30 p.m. Monday while he walked with two friends on Dane Road just south of the Highway 218 overpass.
Another teen was injured in the collision. Neither he nor the third member of the group has been identified.
Wednesday's vigil began around 9 p.m. Among those in attendance were Meardon's parents, Kristi and Chuck Meardon, his brother Grant and sister Madison.
'Kristi and I got that call that no parent ever wants to get,' said Chuck Meardon. 'And now, every night we go home and we don't hear him any more ... the cliche is true, you don't know what you have until it's gone.'
Travis Reyhons, a classmate of Meardon's at City High, said he talked with Meardon each day during their off period at school. He said he attended the vigil to pay respect to his classmate that he remembers being funny and likable.
'Whenever I see him, he's always smiling. Whenever he comes to my mind, I always see him smile,' Reyhons said.
Ashleigh Seydell, Leigh Roggeseen and Lily Son said they were all in Meardon's grade at City High. They said everyone knows one another at the school so they wanted to attend the vigil to support friends who were close to Meardon.
Son said her friends are 'heartbroken' over Meardon's death but that she'll always remember him because of the way he interacted with others.
'He was really friendly. He didn't have any enemies or anything,' Son said.
As a tribute to Meardon, classmate Sofia Oyarzun said she decorated a yellow lantern with Meardon's No. 12 — his soccer jersey number — for his family members to release. Oyarzun described Meardon as friendly, kind and funny.
Oyarzun created a Facebook page called '#12 remembering JC Meardon' in hopes of encouraging her classmates to share memories of Meardon and support his family members.
Those who have memories or condolences for Meardon's family can also write them at www.gayandciha.com.
Funeral arrangements are pending by the Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City.
Kristi Meardon and her son, Grant, and daughter, Madison are overwhelmed with emotion at a candlelight vigil for Iowa City High School junior J.C. Meardon at the City High soccer field on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Family and friends of the City High soccer player organized the vigil to remember Meardon, who was struck by a vehicle late Monday night and later died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Chuck and Kristi Meardon, the parents of J.C. Meardon, hug at a candlelight vigil for their son at the Iowa City High School soccer field on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Family and friends of the City High soccer player organized the vigil to remember Meardon, who was struck by a vehicle late Monday night and later died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
J.C. Meardon's sister, Madison Meardon, hugs her fiancé, Taylor Mcburney, at a candlelight vigil for her brother at the Iowa City High School soccer field on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Family and friends of the City High soccer player organized the vigil to remember Meardon, who was struck by a vehicle late Monday night and later died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Jeff Dancer (right) and his son, Jonah, listen to a song as it is performed at a candlelight vigil for Iowa City High School junior J.C. Meardon at the City High soccer field on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Family and friends of the City High soccer player organized the vigil to remember Meardon, who was struck by a vehicle late Monday night and later died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Jonah Dancer was Meardon's best friend. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Friends and neighbors gathered at a candlelight vigil for Iowa City High School junior J.C. Meardon at the City High soccer field on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Family and friends of the City High soccer player organized the vigil to remember Meardon, who was struck by a vehicle late Monday night and later died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Jonah Dancer wipes his eyes at a candlelight vigil for Iowa City High School junior J.C. Meardon at the City High soccer field on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Family and friends of the City High soccer player organized the vigil to remember Meardon, who was struck by a vehicle late Monday night and later died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Dancer was Meardon's best friend. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Friends, neighbors and family members gather at a candlelight vigil for Iowa City High School junior J.C. Meardon at the City High soccer field on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Family and friends of the City High soccer player organized the vigil to remember Meardon, who was struck by a vehicle late Monday night and later died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Jonah Dancer lights a luminary at a candlelight vigil for Iowa City High School junior J.C. Meardon at the City High soccer field on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Family and friends of the City High soccer player organized the vigil to remember Meardon, who was struck by a vehicle late Monday night and later died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Dancer was Mearden's best friend (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Members of the Iowa City High School soccer team light luminaries at a candlelight vigil for Iowa City High School junior J.C. Meardon at the City High soccer field on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Family and friends of the City High soccer player organized the vigil to remember Meardon, who was struck by a vehicle late Monday night and later died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Members of the Iowa City High School soccer team light luminaries at a candlelight vigil for Iowa City High School junior J.C. Meardon at the City High soccer field on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Family and friends of the City High soccer player organized the vigil to remember Meardon, who was struck by a vehicle late Monday night and later died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Members of the Iowa City High School soccer team light luminaries at a candlelight vigil for Iowa City High School junior J.C. Meardon at the City High soccer field on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Family and friends of the City High soccer player organized the vigil to remember Meardon, who was struck by a vehicle late Monday night and later died at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
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