OFF THE WIRE
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/nov/20/couple-killed-in-imperial-county-honored/
Eulogies for couple killed in motorcycle crash By Nina Garin
Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 10:28 p.m.
Nelvin C. Cepeda
In El Cajon, family and friends gather at a mortuary for memorial services for Amy and Lance Heath. The couple was killed while riding their motorcycle Saturday near Ocotillo in Imperial County. Rows of motorcycles were parked outside El Cajon Mortuary Saturday in honor of Lance and Amy Heath, the husband and wife killed in last week’s crash in Imperial County.
The Heaths, who were members of the Saddletramps motorcycle club, were honored with a standing-room-only memorial service filled with family, friends and fellow bikers who wore the name “Saddletramps” stitched across the back of their riding vests.
“This is a dark time for us,” said Carl “Coyote” Smith, president of the Lakeside motorcycle club. “The darkest we’ve ever had.”
The accident Nov. 13 took the lives of five people and seriously injured five others after a collision involving two cars and several motorcycles. An additional memorial to honor all the Saddletramps victims and injured will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Renegade in El Cajon.
The Heath service, however, put a spotlight on the couple outside their motorcycle-riding lives. They were parents of two sons, Wyatt, 14, and Garrett, 13. They were thoughtful neighbors. And they welcomed everyone they met as family.
“Lance was my nephew, brother and son,” said his uncle, David Kyea, of New Mexico. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”
The hourlong service, led by Pastor Jim Deyling of El Cajon’s Foothills Christian Church, overflowed with emotion, especially as the couple’s wedding song — Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” — played over the speakers.
Mourners took turns sharing stories about Jim Heath, 43, who worked for a demolition company, and Amy Heath, 36, a hairdresser.
There was Patrick Post, a longtime friend of the Heaths and one of the few who wore a suit and tie instead of riding clothes. He thanked the couple for taking care of his children while he was deployed in the military.
“They were there for my kids when I couldn’t be,” he said.
Then there was Ashley Kouza, a co-worker of Amy Heath. She cried through most of her speech that recalled Amy Heath’s free spirit and easy laugh.
Even Amanda Trayer, the daughter of Tonya Trayer, who was also killed in the accident, shared a funny story about the first time their mothers met and didn’t like each other.
“I’m glad they’re up there taking care of my mom,” she said.
But the sobs that people were so careful to keep quiet couldn’t be muffled after Wyatt and Garrett walked to the front of the room wearing vests that read “Protected by Saddletramps.”
“My parents were my greatest friends, ever,” Wyatt said.
A few minutes later his brother followed.
“I love my parents more than anything in the world,” Garrett said.
The service concluded with another song, Chris LeDoux’s “This Cowboy’s Hat,” followed by a reception at the Kaleri Tekakawitha Hall in Barona.
