‘Mischievous scamp’ loved life to the full
AN 11-YEAR-OLD Taupo boy, one of the victims from a horrific car crash that killed a family of five near Whakamaru, was remembered as ‘‘a mischievous scamp’’ who wanted to leave school, and earn some money to be able to look after his mum.
Around 60 friends and family farewelled Jordin Lewis Melling at the Founders Chapel of Remembrance in Taupo yesterday.
Among the mourners were Jordin’s mother, Kylie Hartley, her partner James Cruickshank, Jordin’s grandparents, Dick and Karen Hartley, and John Melling, all of Taupo.
Kylie Hartley showed a mix of emotions – wiping tears from her eyes, and smiling as her son’s life was recounted.
Inside the chapel, memories of Jordin’s life – his favourite toys – surrounded his white wooden coffin. There was a green BMX bike, camouflage cap, crossbow, radio-controlled car, large poster of a Subaru (his favourite car), and two soft toys – a koala and a tuatara.
The coffin was adorned with comments from friends and family.
Jordin’s favourite song, Norman Greenbaum’s 1969 hit Spirit in the Sky, played from the chapel’s speakers as photo slides from his life – catching fish, motorbiking, eating ice cream, playing with his friends, swimming, riding the Zorb or dressing up as Batman – were displayed on a large screen.
‘‘ He was your typical boy,’’ celebrant Peter McIntosh said. ‘‘ A mischievous scamp, loved and known by many, many people.
‘‘First class, grade A The best kind.’’
‘‘He was an outdoorsy kid,’’ Jordin’s grandmother, Karen Hartley, said after the service.
‘‘ He was always in shorts, barefoot or jandals, he never wore longs and he used to tease me when I did.
‘‘He just loved life to the full,’’ she said.
‘‘He really only wanted to take care of his mum, Kylie.’’
Gaje Hall-Hartley, 13, said he often played with his cousin at the beach. ‘‘My best memories are of us fishing together, riding motor- bikes and running up and down sand dunes.’’
Outside the chapel, mourners released 11 blue balloons into the sky.
The crash, which was covered on Tuesday, also
claimed the lives of Jordin’s father, Richard Melling, 37, his partner Lisa Crowley, 23, and their two young children, Brody, 2, and an unnamed 3-week-old baby boy.
Police believe Crowley was driving the van when it crossed the centreline and smashed into two pine trees on the opposite side of the road.
ordinary.
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Police crash analysts have yet to complete their investigation into the crash.
Taupo area commander Inspector Steve Bullock said police were still piecing together the movements of the family between late Sunday and when the wreckage was discovered around 1pm on Tuesday.
It is possible the bodies may have lain in the wreckage for two nights before they were discovered by a forestry contractor.
Jordin’s father was buried in Thames on Thursday.
Funeral arrangements for Crowley, and the other two children are understood to be going ahead also in Thames this weekend.