HIGHLAND, Utah -- A Utah County family was joined by hundreds from the community Sunday to remember a loved one who succumbed to her injuries following a Memorial Day car accident.
The Highland West Stake Center was a place for tears, smiles and memories--all of which surrounded 16-year-old Maylee Anderson.
"She was very joyful, she spent all of her time making everyone around her laugh and finding the joy in everything, I used to say that there was nobody more funny to Maylee than Maylee herself," said mother Christine Anderson. "Anytime she would have a down day I would say, 'Where is my happy girl?' And she would smile and she would be right back, so she just spread that to everybody around her and she made everybody that she was with feel like they were the most important person in the world."
Christine was with Maylee when the crash occurred on Highland Boulevard on Memorial Day. Maylee suffered severe injuries to her face and brain and had been in a coma up until Friday, when she was taken off life support.
Her family said it helps to know that Maylee will, in some ways, keep on living through people she never even met. Her organs have been donated to at least six different people.
"I kept thinking about the joy and the happiness those families whose children and loved ones and brothers and sisters and parents will now benefit from her donation and her life," Christine said.
The family spoke about Maylee's dreams and a list of goals she had, many of which were never achieved.
"Her main goal and aspiration in life was just to be a good mother; she said that to us numerous times," her father, Stuart Anderson, said.
"She was my other half. I miss having her around and spending time with her," said Ben Anderson, Maylee's brother.
Maylee's funeral is scheduled for next Saturday at the Highland West Stake Center at 11 a.m.
