Latest news with #Agape'sGrace
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fundraiser created for family of Drexel firefighter killed in crash
LOUISBURG, Kan. – A memorial is growing at the Agape's Grace office site in Louisburg, honoring Anthony Juarez and his contributions to the Drexel and Louisburg communities. Juarez and his wife Devin were hospitalized after a car crashed into the Agape's Grace office building on March 18. Anthony later passed away from his injuries at the hospital. His wife, Devin, was treated and released from the hospital. Trump invites Chiefs back to the White House for Super Bowl LIV celebration Community members are coming together to support his family, including Sammie Magee, the founder of the non-profit Sammie's Toy Drive. 'So he has four children under 12. So we're collecting toys for the kids, and then we're collecting household items to help out his wife,' Magee said. 'I'm going to put together a big care package with gas station gift cards and price chopper gift cards because that's our local grocery store. Just anything that could help them out during this time.' Magee created the non-profit Sammie's Toy Drive for the Robb Elementary School tragedy survivors. Her efforts have expanded to local communities struck by tragedy. 'When I found out that he (Anthony Juarez) passed away, I thought I've got Sammie's Toy Drive, so why would I not do something? It's my own community. I've got to step in and help,' Magee explained. Juarez served with the Drexel Volunteer Fire Department for nine years. He was also a musician and touched plenty of lives through his music. He assisted his mother in operating the non-profit Agape's Grace, which provides care to adults with special needs. That's where you'll find a memorial full of flowers and other items recognizing Anthony's contributions to the community. The Agape's Grace website says: 'His role with the company was not one that can be defined. When a job needed done, Anthony did it. He was there for all the individuals in the company's care and for the staff.' Magee is using an Amazon wishlist to collect items for the Juarez family. 'It has anything from toys to gift cards to household items that will help them out. Also, we have a donation drop box at Cowboy Coffee Post in Louisburg,' Magee explained. OKKC Media started a T-shirt fundraiser for the Juarez family. You can find more information on Anthony's music website. Northland crash leaves pedestrian in critical condition 'It has anything from toys to gift cards to household items that will help them out. Also, we have a donation drop box at Cowboy Coffee Post in Louisburg,' Magee explained. OKKC Media started a T-shirt fundraiser for the Juarez family. You can find more information on Anthony's music website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘It's just surreal': Loved ones mourn firefighter killed in crash into Louisburg building
Tony Juarez's young son Anthony sat in the back of the pickup, singing a rendition of Alan Jackson's 'Livin' on Love.' The performance moved the boy's father. 'I thought to myself, 'Man, this kid has a really good voice,'' Tony, long a musician, recalled Thursday as he reflected on his late son's life. Another memory: They shared a moment just before Anthony stepped in front of a crowd of hundreds to sing Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode.' Tony offered a few simple words of advice: Just focus on the music. Anthony nailed the performance and never looked back as his music career took off, Tony said. 'It was such a proud moment,' he said, his voice breaking. Tony and a swath of loved ones are now left to reflect and mourn over memories like those as they grapple with Anthony's sudden death. The 32-year-old husband and father of four died Tuesday from wounds he suffered in a shocking crash in the family's hometown of Louisburg. 'It's just surreal,' Tony said. 'I still can't believe it.' Anthony had been with his wife, Devin, inside a building along West Amity Street when a truck careened off the road, smashed through the wall he was standing near, struck him and went out the other side of the structure. Anthony was taken to a hospital but didn't survive his injuries. Police are investigating what caused the crash. 'We are heartbroken and feeling so overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from our friends and community,' Devin wrote in a Facebook post. '(Anthony) was my very best friend and it's been comforting reading all the heartfelt posts by people he has impacted. 'Please do not take a single day for granted. Hug those who matter and make sure they know you love them. Luckily, Anthony lived every day like this. My babies knew how crazy their daddy was about them and he made sure I knew how much he loved me.' Anthony picked up the guitar as a child and quickly mastered the instrument, mostly by teaching himself, Tony said. He and his son would play together, and Anthony's band, 68 Overpass, had its roots in that father-son connection. Tony recalled the time they spent together fondly as he remembered playing at private events or at a local restaurant, or performing at the county fair. His music, Tony said, was perfection. 'It was probably some of the best memories I had with him, watching people coming up and congratulating him and telling him how good he sounded,' he said. Anthony's heart and soul shone through in his music, and his love for the music came second only to the love he had for family, they said in his obituary. He coached his children in sports, at times helping to guide six teams at once during overlapping seasons, they said. He served as a volunteer firefighter with the Drexel Fire Department and worked with his mother, Susan Waggerman, running Agape's Grace, his family's organization dedicated to providing services for people with mental and physical disabilities. Ever a Kansas City Chiefs and Royals fan, he could pull stats from memory, and despite scoreboard deficits, he kept the faith in his teams, his father said. 'I think he lived his life to the fullest,' Tony said. 'There wasn't anything he couldn't do. If he wanted to touch the moon, he would figure a way out to do it.' A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 29 at the Louisburg High School gym.
