Coastal Middle School community honors Logan McCay's memory with bench, caring for pet gecko

Someone big can be imposing, especially to kids, but Logan McCay was as gentle as he was tall, and that's how his friends from Coastal Middle School will always remember him.

"The fact that he was an actual living BFG, a big friendly giant, I am sure that was his main goal in life to be the most friendliest giant you'll see," friend Alexander Grossman said, referencing the titular character of Roald Dahl's novel, "The BFG."

As a way to honor Logan, who died in a car accident in August 2021, Coastal Middle School students have adopted his pet gecko and built a bench located in the wolf cabin at Oatland Island Wildlife Center — one of Logan's favorite places.

"When we learned of Logan's accident, all the teachers, the students and the parents were heartbroken," Coastal Middle School Principal Allison Jones said. "The students very much wanted to find ways to honor Logan and his memory and to celebrate his life."

Giving Logan's gecko, Yoshi, a home at Coastal Middle

After Logan died, the school decided to adopt his pet gecko. They chose a name from his favorite video game, Mario, and called the gecko Yoshi. Yoshi spends its days inside a tank in the science classroom. Logan's closet friends and classmates help nurture the reptile, by petting it and giving it roaches to eat.

Braeden Smith said sometimes he feels like the gecko becomes frightened when he reaches in the cage to feed it. "I really like taking care of his gecko, it's really nice to have something that we have to remember (Logan)."

Smith said he remembers having a birthday before Logan died. The two youngsters went to Wild Adventures. He is sad their friendship was cut short. "We were starting to get closer, but then the accident happened."

Nicholas Richardson remembers how he couldn't meet his friend in-person because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so they would meet on Zoom. He recalls a time when Logan would let the gecko run across the table or it would be perched on his shoulder.

He said that Yoshi comes out for an hour to interact with his classmates before hiding under a rock. "It is probably tough for him because one day his owner leaves for school and doesn't show up ever," Richardson, a seventh grader , said. "He's probably confused why he's in this big building with a whole bunch of kids surrounding him now."

Richardson said he remembers his friend with a funny song. "Whenever Braeden and I were in a mood, he'd always cheer us up by doing something."

Logan's dad Clay McCay said his son has always liked animals and got the gecko about six years ago. He hopes that the students become inspired by Yoshi. "I'm just super happy that they're taking care of (Yoshi)," Clay McCay said. "I'm glad they get to appreciate how Logan was very fond of animals."

Honoring Logan at his favorite place, Oatland Island

Because of Logan's love for all kinds of critters, the school raised $2,024.27 to build a bench, upon which Logan's grandfather engraved his grandson's face. Now kids and their families can sit and watch the grey wolf pack in the cabin at Oatland Island Wildlife Center.

More: Chatham grand jury indicts mother for DUI and vehicular homicide in crash that killed her son

"I actually enjoy how the community put that bench together, and I feel like that if Logan was here right now he would appreciate it," friend Kayla Garner said, adding that he wanted to do something with e-gaming or become a veterinarian.

Grossman, Richardson, Smith and Garner recall how they, along with Logan, had a plan for their future, where they would attend the same college, live in an apartment together, major in the same subject, and work in the same career together.

Richardson said he has never met anyone as nice as Logan, besides his remaining friends. Logan would stand up for people who got picked on. "If somebody tried to mess with us, he would literally stand up, look down and they walk away."

More: Marshpoint Elementary students prepare for UGA, Alabama game with STEAM activities

The school is also planning to honor Logan with space in the yearbook.

"I'd like them to know how much of a good person he was and how much like he was an angel that was taken out of this world of humans," said Richardson, "and I feel like the way it happened just, it wasn't okay."

Clay McCay said the school community has been supportive since his son died, and that the support had restored some of his faith in humanity.

"I think [Logan] would be shocked at how many people cared."

Bianca Moorman is the education reporter. Reach her at BMoorman@gannett.com or 912-239-7706. Find her on Twitter @biancarmoorman.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Coastal Middle School honor Logan McCay with bench, gecko