Campout fundraiser held in memory of 'Angel Megan'

There are five tents popped up in the yard. A box of 30-plus homemade candles is on the table next to a handmade scrapbook, the cover graced with Megan Churchill’s face.

Inside the house her family moved to following the crash, Patience Johnson, 15, keeps a memory chest.

It preserves a bottle of her best friend’s favorite perfume, Britney Spears Curious. It’s also got pieces of the tree the car hit head on.

To get inside, you walk up six stairs, some decorated with hearts, some with words written in chalk.

1991-2007

We miss you

Angel Megan

They’re flanked by a garden, “Megan’s Garden.” Patience’s mother, Tina Tindle, used to collect angels. When they moved here, she knew  where the ceramic figurines belonged.

Scattered outside among the angels are plastic Easter eggs. Tucked in a pink one, there’s a ripped piece of red paper, folded over eight times.

Happy Easter Megan,

I miss you & love you so much. I bet Easter’s fun in Heaven. R.I.P. babygirl.

Patience

In a yellow shell: I ache to hear your voice and see your face.

Among the messages and the angels, there are a few pink roses, the rest of which were left at the accident scene Wednesday, the one-year anniversary of the crash that would eventually claim 15-year-old Megan’s life.

The grass is still pretty much burned away near 19th and Stockwell streets, the tree he drove into long since cut down.

It was tough to visit, Tindle said, so she and Patience left, and they got back to work.

Patience made 75 buttons at Lincoln High before spring break slowed her process. They’ve all been sold.

They created this idea, this annual campout, to honor her, help her family and maybe prevent another senseless accident.

They printed off driver safety quizzes and put them on a table with photos of car accidents. Patience and her mom both took them and passed — 10 out of 10.

You want to take one? Want a raffle ticket? Want to help? Come by 926 N. Eighth St. anytime today. Patience will be waiting. She’ll be busy.

“It’s helped my daughter,” Tindle said. “It’s been bad.”

Preparing for the event has had it’s ups and downs, Patience said.

“This kind of stuff I usually did with her.”

Reach Cory Matteson at 473-2655 or cmatteson@journalstar.com.