Memories

“I went to school with Kade (and Laethan, I love that kid so much, he’d always help me with my math homework even though he‘s three years younger than me😂💘) from fourth grade until he moved, and I was on his bus/ and had classes with him for those four/five years. He was one of my great friends and every morning and every day after school found some crazy way to make me laugh no matter what 🙂 I thought I’d try to make you smile just a little during this heartbreaking time and let you all know just how amazing he was—here’s a couple (of a hundred) great memories I have with him. 

It was fifth or sixth grade (the last couple years of elementary school are totally smushed together, I can’t really remember which was fifth or sixth😂), and the boys were all playing football. One of our friends was chasing him, and a few friends and I were staying under the ramada thing on the field when all of sudden—BOOM! Kade comes crashing in and smacks his forehead on the pole. It was a pretty good one, and we were all freaking out, but he just stood there laughing his butt off. He found the light in every situation and didn’t fail to make everyone else feel it too❤️.

Another one is the school talent show. Again, my mind for some reason can’t remember if it was fifth or sixth grade, but we had a good group—me, Kade, Skylar (another one of our good friends, she’s another one of our friends & she’s a year younger than us) and a few of our other friends who lived near us. Wow, typing this out, I just remember how those were such great times 🙂 we went after school to practice at his house and his mom (who was so sweet and made us snacks) helped us set it up. I can’t exactly remember what it was, but all I remember is we had one person do the head and the other do the hands (so it was just a funny thing where my head would stick out of this box thing and Skylar’s hands would try to feed me, or give me water, something great like that). This is the kicker, I can’t remember the other girl we did it with, but Kade made her laugh SO HARD that she peed her pants. That’s how you know someone is absolutely hilarious—ya can’t fake that! Anyways, he came up with the whole thing and we practiced a few times and then did it in the talent show (obviously giving everyone a kick😂😉). It was SO much fun❤️.

Thank you so much for giving me an outlet to talk about how much Kade meant to me. I know you guys are religious so I thought I’d share this, as well. Yesterday (the 22nd) my friend and I went to a Dollar General near where we live. I told her on the way back to try and find her way back to my house (all the roads connect down here, and she lives in town so I knew it wouldn’t be too hard) but for some reason she went a mile up Ramsey Canyon road and went down the road Kade and his family used to live on. We drove down it, and then I told her it was a dead end so she’s have to turn around (keep in mind, this was about six or seven hours before I heard the news of Kade). We turned around and headed back up the road when I said, “Oh my gosh! This is where Kade used to live!” And I told her about my talent show thing and stuff; she didn’t know him so I thought I’d share. He moved over a year ago, and I haven’t thought too much about him since, but yesterday I couldn’t stop thinking about him. And then it happened. I found out the news. I was completely shocked. Then I felt this feeling I had never felt before—it was like this rush of, I don’t even know. It was insane. But I knew he was there, and I think he was saying a little goodbye to me when I passed his old house earlier in the day. I’ll never forget that feeling, or him. I know he’s looking down on all of us and he’ll be watching over us making sure we’re always laughing and smiling❤️. 

Again, thank you so much. I’m so sorry for your loss and you and your family will always be in my prayers❤️. Kade was such an amazing light in the world and his impact on people will never be forgotten.❤️”

-Kaitlyn Sutliff

Last Valentine’s Day I heard a knock on the door. When I opened the door, there was Kade with a flower for my daughter Callie. He asked me to give it to her and then left. I later found out that he went around our small community that night giving a flower to each girl he knew that didn’t have a “Valentine” that day. I was so impressed that he thought to do that. What an amazing boy he was. So thoughtful and kind. He wanted to make each girl feel special on that day. Says so much about who he was. He will be greatly missed and has inspired all of us to do better and be better so we can live like him.

Kade was in the same group date as my daughter for Winter Formal. His date was Reagan Larson my daughter’s friend. Wanted to make sure that his family got these pictures. That was such a fun night listening to their conversations and enjoying their time together.

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-Jenny Rogers, Mother of Callie Rogers

“I am in the primary presidency with Camilee and my husband was Kade’s priest quorum leader. He touched our family in so many ways. My little kids LOVED Kade. About a month ago we started consistently sitting in front of the Nelson family at church and Kade was always so cute with my kids. They constantly wanted to be turned around talking to him. I remember also during Christmas time what a great young man he was. He delivered all his mom’s Christmas bread, with his truck lit up with Christmas lights. Not many young men will go do that for his mom! He also brought his younger brothers along. He was the best example. A few months ago we had an activity at our house and I was sitting in the other room while the priests were planning for the year and I loved listening to Kade’s comments. He was such a funny kid! He kept chiming in with the funniest activities and things to do. What a hole there will be in that priest quorum. Everyone looked to him.

My sisters were in Kade’s grade and from the second I met him I started begging my sisters to get to know him cause I wanted them to marry Kade someday so bad. He would have been the perfect brother-in-law. They got to know Kade pretty closely and are struggling with the loss of him on this Earth. I will have them send you their thoughts. But last year, they put together a date with and we tagged along to help and Kade kept us laughing all night long. He was so sweet and nice to my sister who was his date. Kade will be so deeply missed.

Here are my husbands thoughts…

Kade was such a great priest he was constantly volunteering to do things that most young men were not always willing to do. He was constantly doing home bound sacrament runs after church and making friends with those he would visit. Every time we got together as a quorum he would constantly crack jokes which I loved because I would always joke around with him. Kade made such a great impression on me by the way he treated his little brothers. I don’t remember what had happened exactly but I remember some kid at our high adventure camp had taken one of his brothers things and wouldn’t give it back. Instead of just telling his brother to get over it Kade went and talked to the kid about it and tried to get it back. I think they ended up having to steal it back because the kid wouldn’t give it back. Like I said I cant remember the whole story but what impressed me the most was Kade’s willingness to help his little brothers. I had two little brothers and was never as nice to them as Kade was with his. Kade was a good man and a great disciple of Christ who constantly was showing me what a true man looked like. I imagine this is a reflection of his parents’ teachings and I am grateful for the man they raised.”

-Alexandria Dobson  

“When Carl and I worked in the Baptistry at the temple. Almost every Wednesday early morning he would come with that same big ol smile. Always a pleasure. His brother and his sister came with him. Kind of special cause I knew his grandma and his mom. Good memories.” 

-Debbie Crotts

“Man I’m such in shock!! The student who lost his life last night Kade Nelson from Thatcher was one of the kindest, selfless, big hearted person I came across, I would have never known he was only 16 he was well mannered, very matured, well preserved, very outspoken and just so thoughtful, i honestly thought he older like he was a senior… This past December after the holiday tournament at EAC my mom’s car broke down outside of the speedway gas station with my lil boy, she was parked there for nearly 30 minutes before calling me, I came but there was nothing I cud really do. We helplessly tried to help ourselves thinking someone from the game or from bylas wud help being we know each other but no, every native was passing us by, not even asking if we needed help. A green and white antique truck comes pulling into the parking lot all decorated with Christmas lights I thought that was cool and a pretty sight to see but then all of a sudden not even a thought or question of who we are they stopped right in front of us and the young man asked if we needed help, we told him yes so he said he was guna park his truck. He approached us dressed in his tux and all, he said he was taking a mechanic class and said I’ll help you the best I can. Him and his date were on there way to a winter ball and had stop for drinks but instead he spent 30 minutes trying to help us out, ppl he didn’t even know, but from the goodness of his heart he offered his help knowing we needed help, another group of guys who knew him stopped by us becuz they all took the same mechanic class, they also recognized my dad becuz they were in the same class with him as well, they all started helping us becuz Kade told them we needed help…. I will never forget that, normally ppl wudnt go out their way to help especially if they’ve already had plans for the evening, dressed up in there formal dress and tuxedo, who have their date wait in the car while he helped stranger’s. I didn’t know his name then but I do now and I want to again say Thank you for taking your time to help us that night.. I want to let his parents know they raised an exceptional selfless young man who went out his way for people he didn’t even know and that I am truly sorry for the passing of there son. I am lifting up my prayers for you all, may the Lord comfort your hurting hearts and give you strength through this difficult time.. Kade was a kind hearted soul.”

-Dvena Kaye (as posted on Facebook)

Kade sat by me in History and everyday that we needed books he would put almost everyone’s away. He was in my seminary class and at one point the parking lot got closed because he kept driving around in it and made a ditch. He made me smile everyday! He was the best part of my day, going to History and getting to talk to him! I’m also a cheerleader and these are my favorite pictures with him as the eagle.

-Amy Gillespie

We’ve had this silly little tradition in my room that when a student earns an A on a major assessment, I hand it back with a yellow post-it note on it. Then if the student chooses, they sign the post-it and stick it on the wall. If a student earns a perfect score, I write “100% Club” on the note. It is kind of hilarious how motivating a little post-it note is sometimes for these high schoolers.  Well math doesn’t come as easily for Kade as some of his peers and he has been trying to get on the wall since last August. Totally entertaining the whole class with his loud commentaries each time I hand back tests of “never give up!” and “when’s our next test so I can try again?” sort of stuff.

Then came January and our dreaded Unit 7 of Logarithms and Exponential Functions. Kade decided after the first two quizzes that he would master logarithms and master he did! On January 22nd, Kade not only got a yellow post it but earned a perfect 20/20 plus the bonus point for 105%. Before slapping his note on the wall, he must have upgraded his 100% Club label to “105% Club”.  I never noticed the 105% until I went looking for his post-it and his perfect test this afternoon after meeting with the kids in the library. I just wanted to see his handwriting again and seeing the crossed out 100% made me laugh and cry out loud. We have a new club in our room that I think will just have one member for awhile.

-Tina McMaster, Kade’s Math Teacher

This is a photo of Kade in his Eagle Mascot attire supporting the booster club by taking a photo with a family. I got to spend the evening with him and enjoyed every minute of it. 

-Michael Thompson

I am a teacher at Thatcher High School. I am also the Spirit Line coach. Last year, Kade volunteered to be the Eagle. No one asked him to, he just really wanted to do it, and MAN did he take it to the next level! For every home game, there was a theme and he always made sure the eagle was on trend with the theme. From a mullet for redneck night to an eye patch for pirates of the Carribean. He even had it decked out with a coconut shell bra and grass skirt once. The girls on my team absolutely ADORED him! They begged me to take him with us to all of the away games we went to, and I had no problem complying. One time we were in a hurry to get to an out of town game (I believe it was in Phoenix) and we made it to Glenbar before I suddenly realized, KADE! We forgot KADE!! He hadn’t made it to the school by the time we left and I totally spaced it! I immediately called him and turned around. He and his mom met us in Pima. He wasn’t upset or anything, he was just waiting there with his big grin and laughed so hard at me! On the way home from the game, it ended up being he and one or two other cheerleaders who didn’t ride home with parents. It was super late and I was not looking forward to the quiet ride home (usually everyone falls asleep). Boy was I in for a treat, Kade entertained us the WHOLE way home, and I am serious when I say the WHOLE ride! I have never met a teenage boy who was so relatable and easy to talk to. 

The thing about Kade, and I’m sure I am far from the only person to write this, is that he was literally friends with EVERYONE. He was not afraid to be himself and people LOVED him for this! He was just as good of friends with the teachers as he was with the students. To say he will be missed at THS just doesn’t do him justice. He was everything that Thatcher HIgh School should stand for. He was the student every teacher loved having and the rest wished they had. He made every moment count. 

-Ashlee Griffin

I had the opportunity to take the tennis boys to the lake and loved getting to know Kade. I was impressed with him, how quickly he offered to help with everything. Even though he didn’t know exactly what needed to be done or how to do it, he quickly stepped in to help. I loved his positive attitude and happy demeanor.

-Vinson Greer