Marques Weekly touched a lot of lives with his participation in football, track and field and drama at Kentridge High School.
So when word spread that Weekly, 19, of Kent, had drowned Sunday at Lake Tapps in Pierce County, the news hit the campus hard, even during summer recess and one year after his graduation.
“He was a tremendous kid,” said Kentridge football coach Marty Osborn during a phone interview. “It’s so sad whenever a young kid dies. His loss will be felt throughout the community.”
East Pierce Fire and Rescue dive teams were called to Lake Tapps North County Park at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday for a report of a water rescue. Divers found Weekly approximately 15 minutes after crews arrived. He was transported by boat to a waiting medical unit where he was treated and later transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. Weekly died Sunday night at the hospital, according to Pierce County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Ed Troyer.
Weekly transferred to Kentridge from Stadium High School in Tacoma his junior year. He played running back and defensive back. He was a sprinter in track.
“He’d always walk down the hall with a big smile,” Osborn said. “He was a very friendly type of kid. He was the kind of kid that everybody loved.”
Friends and family of Weekly had a candlelight vigil for him Tuesday night at Kentridge. They started at the theater and moved down to the football field and circled the track to mourn his loss.
The vigil also served as a fundraiser to help Weekly’s family cover the funeral expenses. Participants were asked to make a donation as they picked up a candle for the vigil.
Jennifer Grajewski, the drama director at Kentridge who taught Weekly in musical productions, posted the following comment on a Facebook page dedicated to the vigil and Weekly at http://www.facebook.com/events/242342499220586/.
“Thank you to everyone that came to the event and were able to witness love and community at its best.” Grajewski wrote. “Marques will always be with so many of us and I truly appreciate everyone who attended. We were able to raise (more than) $2,000 to help the family. I love everyone who supported this event. You are all wonderful people.”
Weekly’s musical performances included the role of Chachi in Kentridge’s spring 2011 production of “Happy Days.”
According to his Facebook page, Weekly worked as a ramp service agent at Menzies Aviation in SeaTac and studied fine arts at Green River Community College.
A memorial service is scheduled for Weekly at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 10 at Christ the King Bible Fellowship Church, 35448 11th Ave. S.W., in Federal Way.
Weekly is the third drowning victim this year at Lake Tapps. On June 21, Quentin Boggan, 16, of Bonney Lake drowned at Allan Yorke Park. On July 21, Marcus Henderson, 20, of Minnesota drowned at North County Park.
The Bonney Lake-Sumner Courier-Herald contributed to this report.
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