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Emiie, t eways ewas

Courtesy of the Parker family

Emilie Parker, who became a victim in the senseless massacre at a Newtown, Conn., school Friday, will always be remembered like this — as a happy, loving child, full of life and hope.

She had so much potentialand so much creativity and somuch energy. You just didn'tknow where it was going to takeher and lead her."

Connecticut tragedy » Utah native brought a bubbly spirit, anartistic flair and a gentle heart to family, friends, even pets.

By DAVID MONTEROand KIMBALL BENNIONThe Salt Lake Tribune

Ogden » Behind Emilie Parker's bigblue eyes was a girl who saw well beyondher years.

The 6-year-old Utah native, one of 20schoolchildren gunned down at Sandy

Hook Elementary, was rememberedWednesday by family and friends as ayoungster who noticed the little thingsin life that made big differences in lives.

James Parker, her uncle who livedabout 20 minutes from Emilie and herfamily in Connecticut, said that provedto be true in one of her last acts beforethe Dec. 14 shooting.

Parker said one of the young victims,

7-year-old Josephine Gay, had troublecommunicating. Josephine was sup-posed to have a birthday party the nextday, Dec. 15, and Emilie wanted to get herfriend the perfect gift.

So Alissa Parker, Emilie's mother, tookher daughter to the toy store. Emilie, heruncle recalled, had noticed Josephine'sface would light up at the sight of a Bar-bie backpack. She'd smile when she sawa pink tutu.

For 30 minutes, Emilie roamed thestore's aisles. When she came back,

Please see EMILIE, A4

ALSO » PUBLIC MEMORIAL FOR EMILIE PARKER TODAY > A5 * MORE PHOTOS ONLINE > SLTRIB.COM

Some Utah legislators urge more guns to make schools safer

More inside» Newtown tries to cope

with tragedy > A3» U.S. gun control de-

bate heating up > A14» Utah mayors split on

assault weapons >B1» Demand spikes for ar-

mored backpacks > C1

Utah House » Fridays mass shooting in Connecticutprompts calls for a formal study of what others are doing.

By ROBERT GEHRKEThe Salt Lake Tribune

A Utah lawmaker wants a formalstudy of how other states keep stu-dents safe at school in hopes of im-proving security in Utah classrooms.

"My foremost goal, absolutely, is to

make sure we've got secure schoolsfor our kids," said Rep. Dan McCay,R-Riverton.

Meantime, Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, says one of the best ways tokeep schools safe is to provide teach-ers with a concealed weapon permitand the necessary training to respond

in case of an emergency."We're not saying they have to [be

armed], but teachers need to under-stand that they have that ability ifthey so choose," Oda said.

The efforts come in the wake of aschool shooting in Connecticut thatleft 28 people dead, including thegunman, and has re-ignited the pub-lic discussion over stricter gun-con-trol laws and improved mental-healthservices.

Utah House Republicans, who metin an all-day caucus on Tuesday, saidtheir goal was to be sensitive in the af-termath of the shooting and not polit-icize the tragedy. That sentiment wasechoed Wednesday by Senate Presi-dent-elect Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, who said Republican senatorswho met in caucus were wary of ad-dressing an issue with so much rawemotion.

Please see UTAH GUNS, A3

Prison-move decision depends on 'efficiencies'Utah Corrections » Six companies presented preliminaryinformation on project that could reach $600 million.

By BROOKE ADAMSThe Salt Lake Tribune

A committee that recommendedon Monday that the state move for-ward with plans to relocate the UtahState Prison said the expense maybebalanced by potential savings in laborcosts. But the prison already appearsto be operating on its front lines at an

efficiency level that exceeds a numberof other states, according to one cor-rections survey.

At the state's main prison in Drap-er, there is one staff person per 3.2inmates, a ratio that includes allemployees — correctional officers,support staff, administrators, etc.But when only correctional offi-cers through the rank of captain are

included, the ratio is one staff personper 11 inmates.

At the Central Utah CorrectionalFacility in Gunnison, the ratio is onestaff person for every 4.26 inmateswith all employees included. Count-ing only correctional officers, the ra-tio is one staff person per 14 inmates.

Those correctional-officer ratiosare higher than in states with pris-on populations comparable to the6,814 inmates incarcerated in Utah.In West Virginia, for example, there

Please see PRISON, A7

Conservative iconBork dies at 85NATION » Robert Bork, a con-servative judge whose 1987 nomi-nation to the Supreme Court waskilled by the Senate in a historicbattle, died Wednesday. > A9 Classified Ads D7 Movies E3

Comics E4 Obituaries B5

Editorials A16 Puzzles E5

Legal Notices C4 Sports D1

Money C1 Television E6

In South Valley edition » Comics: E6,

Movies: E5, TV: E8, Puzzles: E7

V O L U M E 285 N U M B E R 67

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Conservative iconBork dies at 85

NATION • Robert Bork, a con-servative judgewhose 1987nomi-nation to the SupremeCourtwaskilled by the Senate in a historicbattle, diedWednesday. > A9

[

[Classified Ads D7

Comics E4

Editorials A16

Legal Notices C4

Money C1

Movies E3

Obituaries B5

Puzzles E5

Sports D1

Television E6

VOLUME 285 | NUMBER 67

Today • Partly cloudy. > C6

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In South Valley edition •Comics: E6,

Movies: E5, TV: E8, Puzzles: E7

Some Utah legislators urge more guns to make schools safer

A Utah lawmaker wants a formalstudy of how other states keep stu-dents safe at school in hopes of im-proving security in Utah classrooms.“My foremost goal, absolutely, is to

make sure we’ve got secure schoolsfor our kids,” said Rep. Dan McCay,R-Riverton.Meantime, Rep. Curt Oda, R-

Clearfield, says oneof the bestways tokeep schools safe is to provide teach-ers with a concealed weapon permitand thenecessary training to respond

in case of an emergency.“We’re not saying they have to [be

armed], but teachers need to under-stand that they have that ability ifthey so choose,” Oda said.The efforts come in the wake of a

school shooting in Connecticut thatleft 28 people dead, including thegunman, and has re-ignited the pub-lic discussion over stricter gun-con-trol laws and improvedmental-healthservices.

UtahHouseRepublicans, whometin an all-day caucus on Tuesday, saidtheir goalwas to be sensitive in the af-termath of the shooting and not polit-icize the tragedy. That sentimentwasechoed Wednesday by Senate Presi-dent-elect Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, who said Republican senatorswho met in caucus were wary of ad-dressing an issue with so much rawemotion.

Utah House • Friday’s mass shooting in Connecticutprompts calls for a formal study of what others are doing.

By ROBERT GEHRKEThe Salt Lake Tribune

Please seeUTAH GUNS, A3

More inside

» Newtown tries to copewith tragedy › A3

» U.S. gun control de-bate heating up › A14

» Utah mayors split onassault weapons › B1

» Demand spikes for ar-mored backpacks › C1

Prison-move decision depends on ‘efficiencies’

A committee that recommendedon Monday that the state move for-wardwith plans to relocate theUtahState Prison said the expensemay bebalancedbypotential savings in laborcosts. But the prison already appearsto be operating on its front lines at an

efficiency level that exceeds anumberof other states, according to one cor-rections survey.At the state’s main prison in Drap-

er, there is one staff person per 3.2inmates, a ratio that includes allemployees — correctional officers,support staff, administrators, etc.But when only correctional offi-cers through the rank of captain are

included, the ratio is one staff personper 11 inmates.At the Central Utah Correctional

Facility in Gunnison, the ratio is onestaff person for every 4.26 inmateswith all employees included. Count-ing only correctional officers, the ra-tio is one staff person per 14 inmates.Those correctional-officer ratios

are higher than in states with pris-on populations comparable to the6,814 inmates incarcerated in Utah.InWest Virginia, for example, there

Utah Corrections • Six companies presented preliminaryinformation on project that could reach $600million.

By BROOKE ADAMSThe Salt Lake Tribune

Please see PRISON, A7

Ogden • Behind Emilie Parker’s bigblue eyeswas a girl who sawwell beyondher years.The 6-year-old Utah native, one of 20

schoolchildren gunned down at Sandy

Hook Elementary, was rememberedWednesday by family and friends as ayoungster who noticed the little thingsin life thatmade big differences in lives.James Parker, her uncle who lived

about 20 minutes from Emilie and herfamily in Connecticut, said that provedto be true in one of her last acts beforethe Dec. 14 shooting.Parker said one of the young victims,

7-year-old Josephine Gay, had troublecommunicating. Josephine was sup-posed to have a birthday party the nextday,Dec. 15, andEmiliewanted to get herfriend the perfect gift.SoAlissaParker, Emilie’smother, took

her daughter to the toy store. Emilie, heruncle recalled, had noticed Josephine’sface would light up at the sight of a Bar-bie backpack. She’d smile when she sawa pink tutu.For 30 minutes, Emilie roamed the

store’s aisles. When she came back,

Emilie, the way she was

Connecticut tragedy •Utah native brought a bubbly spirit, anartistic flair and a gentle heart to family, friends, even pets.

By DAVID MONTEROand KIMBALL BENNIONThe Salt Lake Tribune

Courtesy of the Parker family

Emilie Parker, who became a victim in the senseless massacre at a Newtown, Conn., school Friday, will always be remembered like this — as a happy, loving child, full of life and hope.

Please see EMILIE, A4

ALSO • PUBLIC MEMORIAL FOR EMILIE PARKER TODAY > A5 * MORE PHOTOS ONLINE > SLTRIB.COM

“ She had somuch potentialand somuch creativity and somuch energy. You just didn’tknowwhere it was going to takeher and lead her.”BRADY COTTLE | Emilie Parker’s uncle

A4 > UTAH & NAT ION » THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2012 THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

Emilie » Continued from A1

it was: 'Oh my gosh. That is our Emilie Parker.'"

James Parker said, it was with a ballet Barbie doll. Two gifts in one.

"Emilie," her uncle added, "was one of those who, if she saw a need, she wouldn't stop until she got it."

But the events of Dec. 14 did stop her. And Emilie ("I'm Emilie, with an 'ie' be­cause my daddy is Robbie with an 'ie,'" she often said), came back to Utah to be memori­alized Thursday and buried Saturday in a horrific turn of events that the Parker family can barely comprehend.

The art of love » The Park­ers — parents Alissa and Rob­bie and their daughters Emi­lie, Madeline and Samantha

— seemed to be always on the move.

In 2008, they left Ogden for Oregon — when Emilie was nearly 3 — for Robbie's job as a physician assistant. In 2010, they moved to Albu­querque, N.M. Then, about eight months ago, the family went to Connecticut, where he landed a job with a hospi­tal. They bought a house and, when Emilie told her mother she wanted to paint her bed­room pink, Alissa shrewd­ly negotiated a deal with her: Make the walls white and then put pink accessories in the room.

James Parker's wife, Nata­lie Parker, said it worked. But her niece didn't exactly skimp on the pink accessories, either.

"She had pink everything," she said, "a pink dresser and, well, the thing I remember most, is a big, pink four-post bed."

But the room also reflected Emilie's other passion: draw­ing.

Natalie Parker said the walls were adorned with the young girl's artwork. Her room was filled with mark­ers, crayons, an easel she'd received on her last birthday, and paint. All kinds of paints. All kinds of colors.

"Alissa encouraged her ar­tistic side so much," James

Photo courtesy of the Parker family

CHRIS DETRICK I The Salt Lake Tribune

James Parker remembers the pains his niece Emilie took to get the perfect birthday gift for a classmate, who also died in the Newtown shooting.

Parker said. But the drawings weren't

always just for self-expression. Many times they were for self­less expression, creative acts designed to lift others. When her grandfather died earlier this year, she made a card for him and ensured it was put in his casket so he'd have some­thing from her — forever.

When her family moved to New Mexico and would visit James Parker in neighboring Arizona, she made a point to fuss over the dogs, Luke and Jack. When the family left, she cried. She worried the dogs

CHRIS DETRICK I The Salt Lake Tribune

Surrounded by the Parker and Cottle families, Jill Cottle Garrett, the aunt of Emilie Parker, speaks Wednesday to reporters outside of Ben Lomond High School in Ogden. In the background are, from left. Randy Parker, Brady Cottle, Daren Cottle and JoAnn Cottle.

CHRIS DETRICK I The Salt Lake Tribune

Pink ribbons put up by fami­ly, friends and neighbors of the Parker family hang in Ogden on Wednesday to honor the memo­ry of Emilie Parker.

would miss her. She also noticed the small­

est details when she drew the dogs, her uncle said, match­ing the colors of their collars

— blue for Luke, red for Jack. Her uncle recalled Emilie

once staying up past her bed­time drawing, so her father told her to go to sleep.

The next morning, Robbie Parker woke up to find a card at his door.

It read simply: "I'm sorry."

Heart of t he class » Before the family left Ogden, Emilie

attended Wee Wonders Pre­school. She was enrolled for only four months, according to Wee Wonders owner Lori Waldron, but it was more than enough time for the bubbly child to leave a mark there.

"Sometimes kids just have that air about them," Waldron said. "They're just special."

Emilie's teacher, Melanie Okelberry, said her pupil was a friend to everyone in the class. She remembered all of their names — a feat teachers can struggle to match.

"She h a d a h e a r t of gold," Okelberry said, "for

everybody." On Emilie's last day at Wee

Wonders, the class threw her a going-away party. Okelber­ry remembered that it was an emotional, tearful goodbye with Emilie and her parents.

"We cried and they cried," Okelberry said, "and then they went."

That would mark the last time the teacher would see or hear of Emilie until Fri­day, when she heard her name mentioned during news cover­age of the shooting.

"Then her picture popped up," Okelberry said, "and then

A boundless fu tu re » The Parkers lived for a short time in Portland, Ore., only a few hours from Alissa Parker's brother, Brady Cottle, in Eu­gene.

Emilie and Cottle's son were about the same age. They enjoyed concocting elabo­rate stories about daring ad­ventures and princesses who needed rescuing.

(Just recently, Emilie was delighting in stories her mom read to her about another fa­mous adventurer, a young wiz­ard named Harry. They were on book two of the Potter se­ries, Natalie Parker said.)

Cottle can' t remember how many times his energet­ic niece would run up to him, saying: "Uncle Brady, I gotta tell you something!" Her intri­cate plot lines impressed him, and he couldn't help but look at her and wonder at her fu­ture. It seemed boundless.

"She had so much potential and so much creativity and so much energy," Cottle said.

"You just didn't know where it was going to take her and lead her."

While the Parkers lived in Portland, they also befriend­ed Jacob Weidert.

The 32-year-old physician assistant worked with Robbie Parker and was struck by Em­ilie's girly nature. When Wei­dert said he was getting mar­ried next summer, he wanted the three Parker sisters to be flower girls in the wedding.

He laughed when Emilie showed him the white dress she wanted to wear.

"I was like, 'That's a white dress' and she was like, And?'"

But now he'd give anything to change what will happen Saturday, when the 6-year-old is buried next to her grandfa­ther in Ogden.

She will be wearing that white dress. And buried with her will be her favorite Amer­ican Girl doll — with a match­ing dress sewn by her grand­mother.

dmontero@sltrib.com kbennion@sltrib.com

This space is dedicated to what should have been the rest of Emilie's life — her triumphs, her loves, her letdowns, her big moments, her quiet delights. It's a story she never had the chance to write.

A4 > UTAH & NATION ≥ T H U R S D A Y , D E C E M B E R 20, 2012 T H E S A L T L A K E T R I B U N E

This space is dedicated to

what should have been the

rest of Emilie’s life — her

triumphs, her loves, her

letdowns, her big moments,

her quiet delights. It’s a

story she never had the

chance to write.

Photo courtesy of the Parker family

CHRIS DETRICK | The Salt Lake Tribune

Surrounded by the Parker and Cottle families, Jill CottleGarrett, the aunt of Emilie Parker, speaks Wednesday toreporters outside of Ben Lomond High School in Ogden.In the background are, from left, Randy Parker, BradyCottle, Daren Cottle and JoAnn Cottle.

CHRIS DETRICK | The Salt Lake Tribune

Pink ribbons put up by fami-ly, friends and neighbors of theParker family hang in Ogden onWednesday to honor the memo-ry of Emilie Parker.

CHRIS DETRICK | The Salt Lake Tribune

James Parker remembers thepains his niece Emilie took toget the perfect birthday giftfor a classmate, who also diedin the Newtown shooting.

JamesParker said, it waswitha ballet Barbie doll. Two giftsin one.“Emilie,” her uncle added,

“was one of those who, if shesaw a need, shewouldn’t stopuntil she got it.”But the events of Dec. 14

did stop her. And Emilie(“I’m Emilie, with an ‘ie’ be-causemydaddy isRobbiewithan ‘ie,’ ” she often said), cameback to Utah to be memori-alized Thursday and buriedSaturday in a horrific turn ofevents that the Parker familycan barely comprehend.

—

The art of love • The Park-ers — parents Alissa and Rob-bie and their daughters Emi-lie, Madeline and Samantha— seemed to be always on themove.In 2008, they left Ogden

for Oregon — when Emiliewas nearly 3 — for Robbie’sjob as a physician assistant.In 2010, they moved to Albu-querque, N.M. Then, abouteight months ago, the familywent to Connecticut, wherehe landed a job with a hospi-tal. They bought a house and,when Emilie told her mothershe wanted to paint her bed-room pink, Alissa shrewd-ly negotiated a deal with her:Make the walls white andthen put pink accessories inthe room.James Parker’s wife, Nata-

lie Parker, said it worked. Buther niece didn’t exactly skimpon the pink accessories, either.“She had pink everything,”

she said, “a pink dresser and,well, the thing I remembermost, is a big, pink four-postbed.”But the roomalso reflected

Emilie’s other passion: draw-ing.Natalie Parker said the

walls were adorned with theyoung girl’s artwork. Herroom was filled with mark-ers, crayons, an easel she’dreceived on her last birthday,and paint. All kinds of paints.All kinds of colors.“Alissa encouraged her ar-

tistic side so much,” James

Parker said.But the drawings weren’t

always just for self-expression.Many times theywere for self-less expression, creative actsdesigned to lift others. Whenher grandfather died earlierthis year, shemade a card forhimand ensured it was put inhis casket so he’d have some-thing fromher— forever.When her familymoved to

NewMexico and would visitJames Parker in neighboringArizona, she made a point tofuss over the dogs, Luke andJack.When the family left, shecried. She worried the dogs

wouldmiss her.She also noticed the small-

est details when she drew thedogs, her uncle said, match-ing the colors of their collars— blue for Luke, red for Jack.

Her uncle recalled Emilieonce staying up past her bed-time drawing, so her fathertold her to go to sleep.The next morning, Robbie

Parker woke up to find a cardat his door.It read simply: “I’m sorry.”

—

Heart of the class • Beforethe family left Ogden, Emilie

attended Wee Wonders Pre-school. She was enrolled foronly four months, accordingto WeeWonders owner LoriWaldron, but itwasmore thanenough time for the bubblychild to leave amark there.“Sometimes kids just have

that air about them,”Waldronsaid. “They’re just special.”Emilie’s teacher, Melanie

Okelberry, said her pupil wasa friend to everyone in theclass. She remembered all oftheir names— a feat teacherscan struggle tomatch.“ She had a hea r t o f

gold,” Okelberry said, “for

everybody.”OnEmilie’s last day atWee

Wonders, the class threw hera going-away party. Okelber-ry remembered that it was anemotional, tearful goodbyewith Emilie and her parents.“We cried and they cried,”

Okelberry said, “and then theywent.”That would mark the last

time the teacher would seeor hear of Emilie until Fri-day,when sheheardher namementioned during news cover-age of the shooting.“Then her picture popped

up,”Okelberry said, “and then

it was: ‘Oh my gosh. That isour Emilie Parker.’ ”

—

A boundless future • TheParkers lived for a short timein Portland, Ore., only a fewhours from Alissa Parker’sbrother, Brady Cottle, in Eu-gene.Emilie and Cottle’s son

were about the sameage.Theyenjoyed concocting elabo-rate stories about daring ad-ventures and princesses whoneeded rescuing.(Just recently, Emilie was

delighting in stories hermomread to her about another fa-mous adventurer, a youngwiz-ard namedHarry. They wereon book two of the Potter se-ries, Natalie Parker said.)Cottle can’t remember

howmany times his energet-ic niece would run up to him,saying: “Uncle Brady, I gottatell you something!”Her intri-cate plot lines impressed him,and he couldn’t help but lookat her and wonder at her fu-ture. It seemed boundless.“She had somuch potential

and so much creativity andso much energy,” Cottle said.“You just didn’t know whereit was going to take her andlead her.”While the Parkers lived in

Portland, they also befriend-ed JacobWeidert.The 32-year-old physician

assistantworkedwithRobbieParker andwas struck by Em-ilie’s girly nature. WhenWei-dert said he was getting mar-ried next summer, he wantedthe three Parker sisters to beflower girls in thewedding.He laughed when Emilie

showed him the white dressshewanted to wear.

“I was like, ‘That’s a whitedress’ and shewas like, ‘And?’ ”But nowhe’d give anything

to change what will happenSaturday,when the 6-year-oldis buried next to her grandfa-ther in Ogden.

She will be wearing thatwhite dress. And buried withher will be her favorite Amer-ican Girl doll — with amatch-ing dress sewn by her grand-mother.

dmontero@sltrib.comkbennion@sltrib.com

Emilie≥ Continued fromA1

H