Classmates grieve over death

Grace Ann Scarlett, 6, Brownstown, was being remembered as “bright and bubbly” Monday at Lutheran Central School in Brownstown where she was a kindergarten student.

Scarlett died  Saturday following an ATV wreck.

“She was a precious little lamb of God,” said Nickie Isaacs, interim principal at Lutheran Central. “She was bright, bubbly, happy, cheerful, smiling all the time.”

Friday was Scarlett’s baptism birthday, Isaacs said Monday afternoon. She said the school celebrates the day a student was baptized.

“She told pretty much everybody she saw that it was her baptism birthday,” Isaacs said. “We can at least rest assured she is with her maker.”

Isaacs described Scarlett as a student wanting to learn about God.

The Lutheran Central community is made up of 145 students and their families. Scarlett was a member of Rachel Klosterman’s kindergarten class. Isaacs said during times like this it shows how large of a community they can be.

“Not only did she touch many lives but (so do) her family and friends,” Isaacs said.

To remember their classmate and friend, Scarlett’s class is planning to have a tree and bench in her memory.

Isaacs said the school’s focus is on grieving with hope and to give direct, honest answers to the students who ask questions about the death of their classmate.

“The most important thing they need to understand is that Grace is with Jesus in heaven,” Isaacs said. “It’s a great opportunity to share the gospel message.”

Scarlett’s parents are Mike and Roni Jo Scarlett.

Isaacs said local pastors met with the faculty on Sunday to discuss how to tell the students and how to approach the situation.

Monday morning the school had a chapel service with the local Lutheran pastors, and students’ family members were invited to attend. Lutheran Central is made up of three congregations, St. Paul (Wegan), St. Peter (Brownstown) and Trinity Lutheran (Vallonia).

In addition to the school’s counselor and pastoral presence, Isaacs said the school also has counselors from the Indiana district who were at the school Monday and will be there today. She said Brownstown Central Community School Corp. also reached out to the school to offer services.