It’s been almost two years to the day that a Care Flight plane went down over Stagecoach, taking the lives of all five individuals aboard: Care Flight crew members Ed Pricola and Ryan Watson; Guardian Flight pilot Captain Scott Walton; and patient Mark “Bear” Rand and his wife Terri Rand.
Pricola left behind a wife, Lauren Pricola and two children, Riley and Everett who at the time were four and two years old.
Now, another tragedy has struck the family with the passing of his six-year-old daughter Riley.
“Riley was a radiant light, brightening every room with her joyful spirit,” Louise Brown wrote. “Her love touched everyone around her, and she was the most caring big sister to Everett (4 years old) and a loving big cousin to baby Stella. Mommy and Daddy were Riley’s world, and she would express her affection by writing letters and drawing pictures for her Mommy, leaving special notes and drawings for her Daddy in Heaven. Riley was a bundle of energy, with a brilliant mind and a contagious laughter that will be deeply missed.”
The cause of Riley’s death has not been disclosed.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Lauren to help her with Riley’s funeral expenses, as well as to provide her time to grieve without the additional stress of worrying about finances.
“Now it’s our turn to rally around Lauren and Everett,” Brown wrote. “This profound loss has left an indelible mark on their lives, and while nothing can replace what they’ve lost, we can come together as a community to offer our support.”
As of Monday, Feb. 17, 2025 over $113,000 has been raised out of the $150,000 goal.
You can also purchase a t-shirt or infant onesie designed with Riley’s artwork, with $10 of each purchase going to Lauren and her family.
Lauren also has a venmo which can be donated directly so no taxes or transaction fees are taken out. You can scan the QR code below, or send your donation to @Lauren-Pricola with the last four digits of her phone number being 0123.
