‘Texas gentleman’ is mourned
A crowd packs a Denver church for the first service for one of the 12 slain in Friday’s theater shooting.
AURORA, Colo. — Friends and families of those who died in last week’s movie theater massacre have begun the painful ritual of mourning and burying their loved ones.
The first memorial service was held Wednesday at Pathways Church in Denver for Gordon Cowden, 51, who was attending the Batman movie premiere with his teenage children Friday when a gunman opened fire inside the theater.
In all, 12 people were killed and 58 injured. Cowden’s children escaped safely.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan and Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates joined scores of friends and family members Wednesday at the packed church. The service was private, but the family released a statement describing Cowden as a loving father, outdoorsman, small-business owner and “true Texas gentleman.”
“A quick-witted world traveler with a keen sense of humor, he will be remembered for his devotion to his children and for always trying his best to do the right thing, no matter the obstacle,” the statement said.
Photographs of Cowden with his four children were shown, said 19-year-old Alana Botdorf, who was among the mourners.
“It was really hard to watch because you could tell what a great dad he was,” she said. “Front row at every play, ceremony and sporting event.... I just hope everyone knows what an incredible man was taken in the tragedy.”
After the service, family members carrying flowers were embraced by wellwishers outside.
“I’m just really glad that the family was able to get support from so many different people in the community, because that is what they need now,” said Botdorf, who said she sent “love and prayers” to the other families affected by the tragedy.
More funerals are planned this week in Aurora, as well as in Illinois, Nevada and Texas.
“Just picked up my sister’s remains. The most difficult thing I have ever been asked to do,” tweeted Jordan Ghawi, whose 24-year-old sister, Jessica, died in the shooting. A memorial service is planned for the aspiring sports journalist Saturday in San Antonio.
At least two of the victims will be buried with military honors: Jonathan Blunk, 26, a veteran who served five years in the U.S. Navy, and John Larimer, 27, who had been in the Navy for just over a year when he died.
Military honors were important to Blunk’s wife, Chantel, who said Blunk had been hoping to reenlist. If he died, he wanted it to be in battle, she told CNN.
Blunk died while pushing a friend, Jansen Young, to the floor. “I think Jon just took a bullet for me, and I was thinking what a great hero he is,” Young told the “Today” show Saturday. “He saved me, and he gave me the opportunity to live. He would have done it for anybody that day.”
“He is going to be remembered as a hero,” Chantel Blunk said.
Larimer, a petty officer third class from Crystal Lake, Ill., also died shielding a friend from bullets. He had gone to see the “The Dark Knight Rises” with three other sailors, one of whom suffered minor injuries.
“He was an outstanding shipmate, a valued member of our Navy team,” said his commanding officer, Cmdr. Jeffrey Jakuboski.