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Center Grove mother and sons remembered after fatal crash

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) — The Center Grove mom and her two sons who were killed in a crash Thursday night are being remembered.

The community came together at the Community Church of Greenwood to celebrate the lives of 47-year-old Jill Buck and her sons, 10-year old Branson and 8-year old Aiden.

“Deep loss, but the beautiful thing is, I don’t have to question as to where Jill Buck, Aiden, and Bradon (sic) are. Her relationship with Jesus Christ gives me complete confidence,” said close friend Kim Sharp.

Sharp will miss Jill’s sense of humor the most.

“Jill was fun. She was a April Fool’s Day girl. She got me every year, and every year was lame. But, you still fell for it,” said Sharp.

Jill was a respected optometrist. But she was mostly known as a family woman.

“She was the family girl, crazy in love with her husband. Crazy in love with her kids,” said Sharp.

Gary Deboard’s youth classroom at the Community Church of Greenwood has had an obvious void. Both Branson and Aiden were in his class. Deboard formed a special bond with Branson, who had Down Syndrome.

“One of the things I looked forward to every Sunday was he always brought a toy. I will miss that so much. I’ll never know what toy he’ll bring next,” said Deboard.

The day of the crash, Jill had taken her two sons to Chicago, where their dad was on business.

“Jill and the boys had come to Chicago, on that Thursday and had a wonderful day and then headed back that evening,” said Jason Gallman, Associate Pastor of the Community Church of Greenwood.

On their way home late Thursday night, a semi truck collided with their SUV on I-65 in Lafayette. The crash killed all three.

Paul and their other three children, Olivia, Grace and PJ, are now clinging to their faith to get through.

“There’s absolutely peace knowing they are with Jesus Christ in heaven. But also, even together to the very end, they were together, in some strange way. It’s very fitting,” said Deboard.

The family is asking that instead of flowers, you would donate to the Down Syndrome Foundation. A Go Fund Me page has also been set up, to help the Olivia, Grace and PJ with college expenses.