Dylan Tanner Reid, 16, of Pueblo, Colo., passed away on April 3, 2008. Born Oct. 2, 1991, in Denver, Colo. Dylan is survived by his two loving parents, BJ "Betty" Maestas (Gary Trujillo) and Wayne Reid; grandfather, Jack Reid; Luanne "Auntie Daph" (Duanne) Coleman; uncles, Robert (Rose) Maestas; Albert Niel (Sharon) Maestas; Fidel (Judy) Maestas; aunts, Eleanor (Luis) Montoya and Polly (Carl) Adams; cousins, Cindy (Darren) Gomez, Debbie (Ric) George, Dee Dee (Andrew) Montoya, Mathew (Barbara) Montoya, Luis (Tammy) Montoya jr., Gilbert (Naomi) Maestas, Gino (Yesenia) Maestas, Ashley Maestas, Aleesha Maestas, Gilespie Herrmann, Terri (Troy) Hu dran, David Vigil, Britani Maestas, TJ Maestas, Kirsta and Randy; and his close extended family, auntie Deb, uncle Donnie; cousins, Tyler, Tommi and Madison DeYoung; also deeply missed by his numerous cousins and friends. Preceded in death by his grandmothers, Juanita (Jenny) Maestas and Dorthy Reid; aunt Lena Martinez; cousins, Bobby Maestas and Albert Maestas. Dylan was a sophomore student at Dolores Huerta High School. He was intelligent, loving, kind and giving. Dylan also loved to snowboard, listening to his music, skateboarding and playing video games. Dylan was an avid reader, venturing through countless books. He was loved by all and befriended many who needed his help. Dylan had a huge heart and smile that lit up a room. Dylan carried charm and charisma with him that welcomed everyone he knew. We cannot put into words the loss we feel as he has gone to dance with the angels, but we take solace in the fact that he let an imprint in all of our hearts that will be with us forever.
His obituary... The hardest words I have ever had to read. I remember that day... I got a phone call as I was on my way back to my high school from the college a few blocks away, the call was from a friend saying the school was on lockdown for one silly reason or another... rumor had it that some kid brought drugs to school again. By the time I got there, the atmosphere wasn't one I was familiar with, it wasn't the usual buzz about someone bringing drugs that I had felt before. No. This one was different. The tension was incredibly high, students were being picked up by parents, tears streaming their faces, holding their sides as if about to burst into tears again. At this point I knew something was terribly wrong. I broke out into a run having only my friends on my mind... "Dylan died" The words were spoken but I didn't hear them as I ran, I had to hear it from someone I would believe not just anyone... When I got inside of the school building there were teachers scattered everywhere, the gymnasium was packed full of students not allowed to leave unless they had a ride. Then I saw my group of friends, all looking down, all crying. "What's going on?" I managed to say. "Dylan is gone Vae." Was the response given by my friend Ashley. At that point I collapsed to my knees, my vision black. Someone's comforting hand placed on my shoulder trying to offer support. I stood up and had to remind myself to breathe. "How?" I choked out, "Not sure yet, we don't even know where or when for certain. We suspect a drug overdose." I only nodded and walked away biting my lip one hand over my face to attempt to keep from breaking down again. I left the school that day feeling awful but in denial... He was too young to die. It was all a joke... some sick joke. Four days later at the viewing the moment I saw him lying still in his coffin, his skin cold and slack... it hit me. I ran out of the church and once more collapsed to my knees, this time onto the cold concrete. A few moments later I was being lifted by someone I wasn't sure of who it was at the time. He pulled me close and I cried into his shoulder. It was my favorite teacher Mr. Aragon. After I pulled myself together I walked down a row of pictures of him, and signed a poster board dedicated to him. The next day at the funeral, I had no tears left. I could no longer cry, I felt numb. When we went to the burial, it was a time to say goodbye. My friends and I stayed longer than everyone else and took the opportunity to walk over to his now closed casket and say our final farewells. That was when I was able to smile for the first time in days. I remembered the good times with him and knew it was going to be ok. Dylan didn't want everyone to mourn him, but rather celebrate his life. He died from a drug over dose... from prescription morphine... Just for fun... a terrible mistake gone wrong...He had taken 8 pills and had an extreme high before crashing hard... he took a nap never to wake up again.
It has been two months since Dylan's death and there are times I still think about Dylan and miss him dearly, however now I look back at him happily, occasionally a tear comes to my eye but I will no longer mourn. I will never touch drugs and I hope more people will hear Dylan's story and think twice before doing them. Youth of today deserve a chance at a full life rather than throwing it all away because of something like drugs. I lost a friend that terrible day, and heaven gained an angel. I am sure that he is in heaven making the other angels smile just as he was so able to do here. Everyone loved Dylan, he really was Mr. Charisma. He will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
RIP Dylan Tanner Reid.
