Loved One's Say Goodbye Khighla Parks

The teen's funeral was held Friday.

"She was just full of life, always smiling," says Jake Adams, Parks' uncle.

"She was just happy and always reached her arms out to people," Christian Adams, another uncle, says.

Clouds washed over Springfield skies as family and friends of Khighla Parks gathered to remember and celebrate the girl's life and lay her to rest.

"It's tough to try to put a service together," says Bonnie Adams, Parks' grandmother, "especially for a young girl so young and full of life. But everything said today, everybody that came, they surrounded us-- the community, the love that radiated from people go with us so much further down the road"

They shared memories of Khighla and talked about her love and passion for horses and country music.

"We were all sitting in one row and when the music started it was country music and she loves it so it was all about Khighlah," Jake Adams says.

A horse drawn carriage carried Khighla's casket to the cemetery. Even her horse Cheyenne, described as her very best friend, was able to attend the ceremony--keeping Khighla's memory alive.

"It was her best friend and we wanted to honor her memory by bringing Cheyenne out to celebrate her life," her grandmother says.

Those at the service shared tears of sorrow for their tough loss, but they were also able to remember Khighla with joy, smiles, and laughter.

"The loving kindness she had in her heart and the soft spoken ness of her spirit," says Christian Adams.

"I will always remember the silly songs we sang and the love we shared with one another how meaningful it was," Bonnie Adams says.

And although Khighla's family can't fill the void they feel over the loss of their loved one, they can continue to celebrate her life and keep her memory alive.

"She has people in heaven that love her she has family here that love her," says Christian Adams. "And when we die we will be able to see her, but we dont know why, we dont know what, and I dont care. I know my niece is alright and God's taking care of her, thats all I care about."