Jackson Hole Underground

Last night I attended a gathering of grieving friends of Chris and Mandy Horne, where with a late rally and no small effort the laughs outnumbered the tears.

The consensus was that any sort of public memorial service for Chris in Jackson Hole will have to wait weeks, possibly months, until Mandy is able to travel and their families deem the time is right.

Among the many recollections shared about Chris:

“He was fiercely intelligent, yet humble.”

“He spent his time here changing kids’ lives.”

And, from a friend’s father: “When the shit hits the fan, I want Chris Horne with me.”

Chris was remembered as a passionate educator with a knack for connecting with kids.

But he also was recalled as a motorcycle-riding free spirit who could dominate a party with his costume.

Journeys School colleagues painted a fuller portrait of the man I had known for only three years. Chris and I were neighbors. As first-time homeowners, we had helped one another and enjoyed some fine times together on the water, too.

I gained an appreciation for his work as a teacher. He had gone to Japan last year on a Fulbright program; he was one of 200 educators nationwide chosen to participate, and he and Kathleen Crowley of Jackson Hole Community School were the only two to represent Wyoming.

He already had made an impact at his new school, Summit Charter School in rural Cashiers, N.C. Even as he relaxed on a beach in Mexico with friends, he talked of ways to better integrate environmental education through a teacher exchange program between Journeys and Summit.

Among the many ways in which friends pledged to remember him, this spring homeowners in the Housing Trust’s Arbor Place neighborhood will plant a tree in his honor, and there will be a Chris Horne memorial float trip/jamboree on the Hoback, Snake or Greys rivers come summer.

Any inquiries about a memorial service should be made to Nate McClennen, headmaster of Journeys School.

Knowing Chris, listening to his friends talk about him and reading the comments posted on these pages, I am left with one overriding impression: The man sowed love wherever he went, and that’s the highest compliment I could pay him.

*

The following is a note I received from Mandy on Dec. 1:

This photo was taken by Chris’ dad at our wedding. I wanted to share this particular photo because I feel it captures us well … Chris, in the moment, fully present and attentive, and making me laugh.

I am not able to write much at this time but I wanted to thank Jim for this site and to thank you all for your prayers, and thoughts.

It’s the energy and love from everyone that is keeping me going from day to day. Peace be with you all.

Mandy

This entry was posted on Monday, November 26th, 2007 at 9:17 am and is filed under friends. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.