PALATKA, Fla. – The community of Palatka came together Monday night for a vigil to celebrate the life of 9-year-old Tate Ricks.
Tate went out fishing with a family friend Saturday evening but the wake from a larger boat knocked Tate overboard. After an extensive 36-hour search, the boy's body was found Monday morning not too far from where he disappeared.
Mourners met at Riverfront Park in the pouring rain until 6 p.m. when the clouds parted, the sun shone through and the vigil started in earnest.
"He was really nice and sweet, and I didn't think he would die like that," Willow Skidmore, Rick's third-grade classmate, said. "When I went to the playground today I started to cry because I missed him a lot."
The family said Tate's viewing and funeral will be Thursday night at Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home on Palm Avenue in Palatka. The viewing will be at 5 p.m. and the funeral service will start at 7 p.m. Tate will be buried in Rockmart, Georgia, Saturday afternoon.
Investigators said Tate was found not far from where he went into the water Saturday afternoon near Corky Bell's Restaurant on U.S. 17.
Tate's grandmother, Suzette Guess, said Tate was fishing with her boyfriend, Ricky Gurthie, in a 14-foot jon boat about 5:30 p.m. Saturday when the wake from a larger boat knocked him overboard. She said Gurthie jumped in to try and find the boy but came up empty-handed.
"That smile and him talking. He loved to talk and he liked to be outside doing something, fishing, riding a four wheeler. I'm just going to miss him," Guess said.
Gurthie made it back to shore, but Tate did not.
"Ricky said as soon as they left the dock, they hadn't gotten far, and that's when a big boat come by with a big wake and it knocked Tate out of the boat and Ricky went in after him," Guess said. "(Ricky) tried everything he could to save him. He's not doing real good right now."
Guess said the family was notified about 6 a.m. that Tate's body had been found.
"We know where he's at," she said, choking back tears. "I want to thank everybody for all their help putting boats in and going to look, taking their time, and all the other agencies that helped us. I really appreciate it."
Guess said family members have come from Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia. She said the family also has friends and family locally.
"He was a good kid. He was loved by everybody, and he's going to be missed terribly," she said.
Tate's teachers and classmates are also grieving. He was a third-grader at Kelley Smith Elementary School in Palatka.
Principal Tim Adams said the school staff is doing its best to be there for students and teachers who are having a hard time dealing with the tragedy. They have also brought in extra grief counselors.
"Tate's class and teacher, they all are seeing grief counselors," Adams said. "They're having the opportunity to have some grieving classes, drawing pictures, writing notes to help them through the grieving process, and they're also helping the teacher with that as well, and it seems to be going very, very well."
Tate's sister is a second-grade student at Kelley Smith, and Adams said the school will provide her as much support as possible when she returns. He said the school is gathering items like food and clothing to give to Tate's family later Monday to help them through the difficult time.
Guess said the support from the community has been overwhelming.
"It means a lot. We're a small town, not real big. I've come to find out over the last few days that when something happens, this community pulls together," Guess said. "Next thing I knew, every boat ramp was full of boats. People were spending their day and time trying to find him, and it really means a lot to me. I thank them all a lot."
The search area included the St. Johns River from U.S. 17 to Memorial Bridge to the north and Pico Road to the south.
Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy said multiple law enforcement vessels were engaged in grid searches all day Sunday using underwater sonar. Divers and aviation units continued late Sunday as the search became a recovery operation.
The body was found floating just below the surface of the water about 4 a.m. about a quarter-mile from the center of the search area.
Investigators do not believe that Tate was wearing a life jacket.
"I just want everyone to continue to keep (Ricky) and my family in your prayers for these next several days," Guess said. "It's going to be very hard while we try and get Tate laid to rest."
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family. To donate, go to http://www.gofundme.com.
The Putnam County Speedway is also planning a fundraising benefit for Tate's family on Saturday at the speedway. The event will include live music, raffles and drawings, and donations will be collected for Tate's family.
"It's so tragic when you hear about a child losing their life. It's just so tragic. I have a son, I know, I feel for them. I don't know what I would do, so we want to give back," said John Michalman, co-owner of Putnam County Speedway. "It hits close to home and we want to reach out. We want to bring out as many people as we can, because there's a lot of people that know that family."
General admission is $10. Children ages 11-17 are $5, and kids 10 and younger are free. All proceeds will go to Tate's family.
Gates open at 3 p.m. and races will start at 6 p.m. For more information or to donate online, go to http://www.putnamcountyspeedway.org/.