EV Seniors Lose Classmate

Thu., April 23, 1998

By Marny Lombard marnyl@spokesman.com (509) 927-2166

The senior class of East Valley High School last week gave David Jernigan’s family a rose bush in his memory.

“Our school has been fairly powerfully hit with this week,” said Julie Seipp, senior class advisor. “I’m real impressed with the kids because they’re gentle and careful (with those who are grieving).”

Jernigan died April 13 in a car accident. He was 17 and a senior at EV.

Two other recent deaths have affected the school community. Rex Smith, the father of senior Garrett Smith, died on April 14. Brian Knisley, a 1997 East Valley graduate, died Saturday. Knisley suffered from muscular dystrophy.

Just two days before his death, Jernigan had returned from a spring break trip to Japan with EVHS teacher Jeff Jones and several other students. Jernigan was taking second-year Japanese.

“We didn’t even get the chance to hear all about his trip,” said Julie Jernigan, David’s stepmother.

Jones said Jernigan “enjoyed every single day” on the trip. “He tried everything - even eating a live eel.”

Jernigan was an avid shop student. “He loved making things with his hands,” said Julie Jernigan. “There’s something that he made in every room of the house.”

David also spent a lot of time with his grandparents, helping build fence, brand cows and going fishing.

The Jernigan family lives at Newman Lake. David was driving on Highway 290 at the time of his accident. He crossed the center line and hit the trailer of a tractor-trailer.

No cause was apparent for David’s error. Julie Jernigan said that deputies suggested that he may gotten distracted while changing a CD.

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