By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter
OLIVER SPRINGS (WATE) - The sudden death of 14-year-old Ellie Jackson, a popular high school student, has many people mourning this 4th of July weekend.
Jackson died as a result of injures she received in an ATV accident Friday.
Family members say Ellie was very involved in school. She was a varsity cheerleader and participated in several school clubs.
"She would have been 15 next month, August 6," said Greg Jackson, Ellie's dad. "She was a wonderful child. She was the perfect child that any parent could ever hope for. She never met a stranger and she had no enemies. She got along with everyone she met. (She) was a lover of life and a lover of animals. If it was animal, other than a spider, she wanted to pick it up she wanted to hold it. She wanted something to do with it."
This love of animals was something Ellie wanted to pursue after high school.
"At an early age, sixth or seventh grade, she came to us and told us she wanted to go into marine biology, and she had a dream of going to Coastal Carolina University," said Jackson. "She was dead set on that goal."
Ellie took her school work very seriously and was a straight-A student.
"She was just precious, just sweet," said Oliver Springs High School librarian Eva Robbins. "You couldn't ask for a better kid. She was special, very special."
To honor Ellie, her family has plans to start a scholarship fund in her name.
"The accident happened late yesterday," said Jackson. "We made arrangements this morning, so we didn't get an opportunity to get to the bank, Regions Bank in Oliver Springs. We hope to go first thing Tuesday morning, and open the Ellie Jackson Memorial Scholarship Fund, so we can honor her as the years go by, and never forget her."
Ellie is still giving back even though she is gone.
"We made the decision last night to donate some of her organs and tissue in the hopes that it will go to someone who really needs it, and take care of them for a long time," said Jackson.
But for now those who knew and loved Ellie are just grateful they were able to spend 14 wonderful years with her in this life.
"She was a special girl, and I will miss her very much," said Jackson.
The Oliver Springs High School cheerleading squad met with counselors Saturday to deal with Ellie's death.
School officials say if any students need help dealing with her death they can call the high school Tuesday for help.
Ellie's funeral service has been set up for Monday at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's Church in Oak Ridge.
The family is asking instead of flowers to donate money to her scholarship fund once it is set up at Regions Bank.
