Legard Family to hold celebration of life

PLAINS - Family and friends of a Plains family that suffered a tragic loss last weekend will be holding a public memorial service this Saturday at the Plains High School gym.

The reception is open to the public following a private service for the family.

Kathy and Jake Legard and Payten Yoder were killed last weekend when the vehicle they occupied drove over an embankment landing in the Clark Fork River.

The accident occurred Friday afternoon with the vehicle being recovered on Sunday.

According to Judy Woolley who is helping organize the public reception, family and community members are invited to attend to celebrate the lives of those lost.

Woolley encouraged people to come and show their appreciation for the family.

Woolley said there will be speakers and an audio visual presentation celebrating lives cut short by a tragic accident.

She also said members of the public who wish to speak will be welcome to do so at the reception.

Woolley knew Kathy Legard for six years and was familiar with how many in the community felt about Legard.

“She was a great person who was very unassuming about her impact on this community. She never looked for praise for all her volunteer efforts. Kathy affected a tremendous amount of people here,” said Woolley.

The reception will start at 5 p.m. Those wishing to contribute food can drop off their preparations at the school cafeteria on Saturday after 3 p.m.

A Legard Family Benefit fund is open at the Rocky Mountain Bank in Plains for those wishing to make a donation in the name of the family.

According to Sheriff Tom Rummel, there was no new information on the accident. Cause of death has not been determined.

Rummel could not say definitively who was operating the vehicle at the time of the accident.