This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8192 Message Board Post: Daily Independent newspaper Ridgecrest CA Kern County May 17, 2005 FRONT PAGE LOCAL TEACHER DIES IN HIKING ACCIDENT William Joseph Kilgore, a 38 year old Murray Middle School teacher perished after falling down a 50 foot cliff Saturday afternoon while hiking with family member in an area known as Robbers Roost, just southwest of Inyokern. Kilgore, who was ambling in a rocky area with his five year old son, brother in-law (sic) and a toddler reportedly fell unnoticed into an outcropping of rocks at approximately 2:30 pm according to a Kern County Fire Department respresentative. "It was an accident. It was nobody's fault. He apparently lost his footing," said RCFD Captain, adding that the incident occurred while Kilgore had climbed a mound of loose rocks to take advantage of the view while the other adult was caring for the two boys in tow. Kern County Deputy Coroner who responder to the scene near the junction of California State Routes 14 and 178 to invistigate the incident confirmed that Kilgore had perished at approximately 2:30 pm from extensive blunt force truma. "It is not uncommon for people to slip and fall of loose rocke," he said, adding that fatal falls oftentimes occur when hikers underestimate their footing. The captain whose KCFD unit was second to respond to Robbers' Roost said Saturday's recovery included a hoist-rescue from the air ambulatory services of Mercy Air, Inc. "Mercy Air was used to spot the body from the air because it was in an area not readily accessible by foot," he siad adding that the Inyokern fire crew hiked up once Kilgore had been located. Kilgore will be missed at Murray, where he was employed as a special education teacher and throughout Sierra Sands Unified School District. "Will Kilgore was a significant contributor to education and a role model for student at Murray Middle School," said Joanna Rummer, SSSUSD superintendent. "He used music and art as instructional methodologies to convey currculum (sic) and participated in the student rock band, which met as a club every Monday after school. Will was gently, humble and very popular with students." Kilgore is survived by wife Jewel-le Kilgore and their unborn son, Kalilah Kilgore, a Burrought High School Freshman and five year old Derrick Meyer. News Review newspaper Ridgecrest CA May 18, 2005 Front Page TEACHER FALLS TO HIS DEATH ON HIKE A Murray Middle School teacher fell to his death on a hike near Robber's Roost on Saturday. William Joseph Kilgore, 38, was hiking with his son Derrick Meyer, afriend and his friend's child when he had an accidental fall. Despite the friend's effort to secure the children and get help for Kilgore, he died quickly of his injuries. A memorial service for Kilgore will be held Saturday May 21 at 11 am at Ridgecrest Mortuary. The family plans to have the burial at a family plot in Minnesota. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Kilgore family fund at Kern Schools Federal Credit Union. Born on Sept. 29, 1969 in Austin, Minn. Kilgore earned his bachelor's degree in art. He had been a Ridgecrest resident since 2000. He was a teacher with Sierra Sands Unified School District for five years, serving most recently as teacher of the special-education day class at Murray Junior High. "He was two papers away from getting his master's degree in teacher," said his sister-in-law Tina Meyer. Kilgore loved teaching and his students. His passions also included playing music and exploring the outdoors. "He was great - he was really bright and witty, really funny and loved doing outdoorsy kinds of things. He took guitar lessons and took road trips and was constantly practicing his art," Meyer recalled. Kilgore and his wife Jewel-le were expecting their first son in just a few weeks. "He won't get to see his son but his wife will have a really great way to remember him," said Meyer, adding that Jewel-le plans to kname the baby William Joseph after his father. Friends of the family are planning a car wash to help pay funeral costs for Kilgore. The car wash will take place at Wienerschnitzel on Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm. Kilgore is survived by his wife Jewel-le Kilgore, aughter Khalilah Kilgore and son Derrick Meyer all of Ridgecrest. Other survivers (sic) include his parents Daryl Herbert and Nada Marcell Kilgore of Austin, Minn. and his sister Charity. Arrngements were by Holland & Lyons Mortuary.