(New Carlisle, IN) - Respects were paid to a little girl from New Carlisle this weekend. 

 

6-year-old Gracie Ross was found dead in woods behind her apartment complex on Friday, March 12.  A preliminary autopsy report indicated she was strangled to death. A 14-year-old is still in police custody in connection with the incident. No other details have been revealed, as the investigation continues.

 

A funeral service was held for Gracie Saturday morning in South Bend. A line in Gracie’s obituary from Palmer Funeral Homes summed up her short life: “She was the light in the room.  The brightest flower in the vase.  She could change your mood from bad to good and from good to great. She was friendly, outgoing, kind, cheerful and one of a kind. In short, amazing.  She was loved by all and will be missed by many.”

 

On Friday the Olive Elementary school community paid tribute to Gracie, who was a kindergartner there.  Teachers and students wore purple, Gracie’s favorite color.

 

Olive Principal Tara Bush remembered Gracie at a memorial service earlier last week.  “Her smile even shone under the mask,”  Bush said.  “You could tell she was smiling all the time. Olive is a better place because she was there, and she will be greatly missed.”

 

Teachers and students at other New Prairie schools, as well as at Oregon Davis schools and elsewhere also wore purple Friday in solidarity with Olive School.