Community holds fundraiser for family of Yellow Grass homicide victim
June 10 has been dubbed Abbie's Day in the community
A small Saskatchewan community has organized a day to honour a local mother who was killed in April.
Abbie Speir was a 33-year-old mother of three, living in Yellow Grass, Sask. — about 90 kilometres southeast of Regina.
Emergency services were called to a home in the southern Saskatchewan town on April 20 for reports of a fire. There, they found Speir dead.
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The mother left behind a son and two daughters.
To remember Speir and raise money for her children's trust fund, the community is hosting Abbie's Day on June 10.
Jen Wilkinson, president of the Yellow Grass Community Club, is helping to plan the event, which will start with a ball tournament at 9 a.m.
"We really wanted to do something because she was so involved in the community," Wilkinson said.
There will be beer gardens, a canteen and children's activities. At 3 p.m., they will hold a park memorial, planting a tree and unveiling a bench in honour of Speir.
The day will end with supper and a cabaret, featuring a live band. They have also put together a silent auction.
Mother of 3 was strong community member
Speir and Wilkinson coached soccer together and had kids who played hockey together. Wilkinson said Speir was a dedicated mother who was always in the park with her kids. She was also known for helping out at every local event and was a member of the Yellow Grass Community Club along with Wilkinson.
We just feel a big gap right now in our lives that we're just not sure how to fill because she was so involved and so a part of everything.- Jen Wilkinson
"Abbie was amazing. She was the type of person who was hardworking, but always having fun, life of the party," Wilkinson said. "But she would be the first one that was there for cleanup the next day."
Since her death, Wilkinson said the community has been grieving her loss.
"It's quite devastating for us. Abbie was a really good friend of our and it was really tough on us to lose her," she said. "We just feel a big gap right now in our lives that we're just not sure how to fill because she was so involved and so a part of everything."
Support from people in Yellow Grass, Weyburn and the greater community has been pouring in for the event, according to Wilkinson.
"Everybody that knew Abbie, and even if they didn't know Abbie, they're just I think, really touched by the story of Abbie and really just want to help. It's been amazing."
Tickets for event are still available. For more information or to help, contact Wilkinson at (306) 861-8021.
Kevin Obina Okafor, 37, of Yellow Grass is facing three charges in relation with Speir's death including first-degree murder, flight from a peace officer and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.