In Snohomish, feeling of loss overwhelming

SNOHOMISH — The tragedy made national news. But the grieving is local in this town where everyone has watched joyful young men and women float to earth, where sky diving is just part of the scenery.

On Wednesday, people who call Snohomish home kept their neighbors in their prayers.

At the Stocker family’s produce stand next door to Harvey Field, talk was of the nine Snohomish-based sky divers who perished along with their pilot in a crash near White Pass in the Cascade Range.

Many people in town knew the victims. Everybody, it seems, knows the Harveys.

“It breaks our hearts that something like this happens to any family,” Janet Stocker said, the tears welling in her eyes.

The Stocker and Harvey families are among pioneers who cultivated and shaped the valley together. Their lives are intertwined, Stocker said.

“It’s too soon right now,” she said. “Most people are still in a stage of shock and sadness.”

Elaine Harvey, who runs and manages Skydive Snoho­mish at the airport, said she has received many bouquets of colorful flowers, cards and notes from people in the community. E-mails of condolence have come in from all over the world.

“Anytime you go through an event like this, you will find out who really cares,” Harvey said. “You will find out the impact that your business and your passion have on so many people.”

Sky divers live in a tight-knit community. So do people in Snohomish, a city of about 9,000. People send their children to the same schools. Neighbors watch out for each other.

“I’m very sad. It’s a very tragic thing to lose a group of young people,” said Lin Hill, who with his wife Lorene owns an auto repair shop across the street from the airport.

From their office, the Hills often watch sky divers swoop toward the ground beneath their colorful canopies. On Tuesday, they watched news crews flock to the airport. Lorene Hill said she sent an e-mail to Kandace Harvey, the airport’s owner, offering condolences.

“In a time of sorrow, most of us want to be left alone,” she said.

Her business has repaired vans for Skydive Snohomish. Two of her employees, Nathan Oppie and Dion Zacharias, used to work in Everett with Andrew Smith, one of the victims.

“What do you think? Do you think it really happened?” Oppie asked Zacharias on Wednesday morning.

“Not at all,” Zacharias said.

They remembered Smith, 20, of Lake Stevens as an energetic, fearless friend who lived for the moment. Smith once jumped off a tall cliff into a lake in Eastern Washington, they said. In the water, he was seen screaming and smiling, having a blast.

Snohomish is ready to show its support for the victims’ families and friends when they need it, city manager Larry Bauman said. The Harveys’ plans for the airport’s growth have stirred controversy, but nobody seemed to be talking about that Wednesday.

“I don’t think that’s an issue for anybody in terms of dealing with the personal tragedy,” Bauman said.

The airport sits across the Snohomish River from the city’s historic downtown. People who live and work there have sent flowers to the airport, said Julie Terrell, owner of a gift shop on First Street.

“Everybody in the community will be more than willing to offer support in any way they can,” Terrell said.

Foxglove Floral put together a bouquet on behalf of downtown merchants, said Gerri Kaylor, the flower shop’s owner. “It’s very hard,” Kaylor said. “I haven’t talked about it much because I know I will start crying.”

A memorial service for the 10 men and women has yet to be scheduled, Elaine Harvey said.

She is looking for a place to hold a big crowd.

“We are very touched and grateful to the members of the community who have reached out and expressed their concern and love,” she said.

Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Judge sentences man for role in human smuggling ring

Jesus Ortiz-Plata was arrested in Everett in May 2024. A U.S. District Court judge sentenced him to 15 months in prison.

Bill Wood, right, Donnie Griffin, center right, and Steve Hatzenbeler, left, listen and talk with South County Fire Chief Bob Eastman, center left, during an Edmonds Civic Roundtable event to discuss the RFA annexation on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds community discusses annexation into the regional fire authority

About 100 residents attended the Edmonds Civic Roundtable discussion in preparation for the April special election.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens schools bond leading early; Arlington voters reject latest levy attempt

A $314 million bond looks to pass while Arlington’s attempts to build a new Post Middle School again appear to take a step back.

The second floor of the Lynnwood Crisis Center on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Funding gap leaves Lynnwood without a crisis center provider

The idea for the Lynnwood crisis center began in 2021 after a 47-year-old died by suicide while in custody at Lynnwood Municipal Jail.

Three seriously injured after head-on collision on Highway 522

The crash between Monroe and Maltby happened around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.