'Come as your authentic selves' to memorial for Willard High senior killed in Dec. 7 wreck

Claudette Riley, Springfield News-Leader
·3 min read
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Callista Fisher, who preferred to spell her first name with a K, was killed Dec. 7 in a head-on collision with a school bus. She was a senior at Willard High School.
Callista Fisher, who preferred to spell her first name with a K, was killed Dec. 7 in a head-on collision with a school bus. She was a senior at Willard High School.

A public memorial service has been scheduled for a Willard High School senior killed late last week in a head-on collision with a school bus.

Friends, family and others will gather Thursday evening at North Point Church to celebrate the life of Kallista Fisher — who preferred to spell her first name Callista with a "K." She was 17.

The service is 5-8 p.m. Thursday in the main sanctuary at North Point Church, 3401 W. Norton Road in Springfield.

In a Facebook message, her mother Vyctorya Bowen encouraged mourners to "come as your authentic selves" and those who want to pay tribute to her daughter can wear "Kallista fashion" including band t-shirts, leather coats, hats and shades, studded belts, chains, bracelets and Vans or Converse shoes.

Bowen wrote a message to the community on Facebook and gave the News-Leader permission to share:

"We are devastated by the loss of our daughter. It’s been a struggle to get out of bed & face our new reality every day. We are finding some solace in reading & hearing so many wonderful stories about Kallista. Kallista was incredibly smart, funny, talented, loving, caring & authentic. Kallista was an amazing artist with a big personality that lit up any room. She was not afraid to (be) her authentic self every day & had so much confidence in who she was. Many have said that they looked up to her & saw her as a role model."

As of midday Monday, 280 people had donated more than $16,000 through GoFundMe, an online fundraising site, to help with funeral expenses.

"This has covered the cost of her funeral expenses & will allow us to also purchase a headstone. It’s been a blessing truly. Any money remaining after all funeral expenses are done will be donated in Kallista’s memory," Bowen wrote. "Thank you to all who have donated, prayed for our family & personally reached out with kind word."

Callista Fisher was a well-liked student and artist at Willard High School. She died Thursday in a three-vehicle accident. Here is one her photos dubbed "multiplicity."
Callista Fisher was a well-liked student and artist at Willard High School. She died Thursday in a three-vehicle accident. Here is one her photos dubbed "multiplicity."

Bowen also posted a message to her daughter's friends and classmates who have reached out, made posts on social media, or shared photos and videos. She said family members have read every letter and message.

"Hearing your kind words have helped us more then you can even imagine. Not many parents get the opportunity to hear about the kind of impact their child has made on so many others. She attended Willard her entire school career and that meant that she had many years to build relationships with so many of you," Bowen wrote.

"While many have talked about the impact she had on their lives I want you to know that so many of you impacted hers as well, going as far back as kindergarten up until senior year. Kallista loved school, she loved people, she loved her friends and loved her boyfriend deeply."

More: Willard teen killed in Thursday crash with school bus, remembered as kind, talented artist

Bowen said friends who attend the memorial will have the option of writing on Kallista's casket in a metallic marker.

"Anyone who knew Kallista knew she had thousands of sharpies that she would write 'Kallista was here' and doodle on anything & everything with … including herself. We feel (this) is an appropriate tribute to her," she wrote.

However, Bowen said the casket will remain closed. "We want everyone to remember her as she was before this tragedy."

The accident occurred Dec. 7 on Missouri 266, one mile west of Springfield.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred shortly after 4 p.m. when a Ford Explorer driven by Harold Budnovich, 68, of Springfield, pulled into the path of a school bus driven by Katherine Lopez, 52, of Willard.

There were no students on the bus at the time. After the Ford Explorer and the school bus collided, the bus then hit head-on a Chevrolet S10 driven by the teenager.

The other drivers were injured and taken to Springfield hospitals. Fisher was pronounced dead at the scene.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Memorial set for Willard High senior killed in head-on wreck with bus