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After duck boat tragedy, parents’ faith gives comfort


HIGGINSVILLE, Mo. (BP) — When Michelle Chaffer, a mother of 10, first heard of the death of 17 tourists on a “duck boat” in Branson, Mo., in mid-July, she was sad to hear of so many lives lost. But she saw no need to be concerned for her parents, Bill and Janice Bright, who had driven to Branson earlier that day to celebrate their 45th anniversary. And Michelle’s sister had heard from them after they checked into their hotel.

This changed the following day.

“It was late morning. My aunt called, and she was hysterical. She couldn’t find my parents,” Michelle recounted.

Since her aunt lived in southern Missouri, she had planned to meet the Brights in Branson but couldn’t contact them. And, unlike Michelle and her sister, she knew the couple had planned to ride “the duck boats” during their trip.

Michelle immediately made several calls to find her parents. Then, one of her friends began to send pictures and news from Branson. One picture showed vacant cars in the parking lot outside the duck boat office. They were decked with flowers in honor of those who had died or were missing.

Amid the cars, Michelle saw her dad’s van.

“It was shocking,” said Michelle, a member of First Baptist Church in Higginsville, Mo. “I don’t really know what was going through my head. I couldn’t believe it, but I knew it was true.”

Amid the shock, her church family responded with the love of Christ. Michelle learned about her parents’ death while working at the church for a children’s summer program. So they knew immediately what had happened.

“They gave me space to talk on the phone,” Michelle recounted. “They prayed for me and they followed me home.” Then they waited outside her home until she had the chance to tell her 10 children what had happened to their grandparents. In the days and weeks that followed, church members provided meals, did the laundry and other chores, and helped Michelle clean her parents’ house.

“They made sure that my children were supported and taken care of,” Michelle said. “They really helped me in ways that I didn’t even know I needed help…. They were here, and — when my brain couldn’t even think — they were helping me get things done. There’s just not enough words to say how thankful I am to them.”

First Baptist pastor Greg Fine conducted the Brights’ funeral on July 26. Although they weren’t members of the church, Bill and Janice had been visiting since moving to the town a couple of years earlier.

“Pastor Greg did just an amazing job with the service,” Michelle said, “and the Gospel was preached — which I’m very grateful for. Not all my family members are saved.” Roughly 175 people attended the service, which included time for people to share their memories of Bill and Janice.

Michelle said her dad was a hard worker. “He did what he needed to do to take care of the family. He was a master mechanic, and he was just always helping people with their cars. It was hard work but he always loved helping people in that way.

“And he loved his grandkids,” Michelle added, sharing how her dad, prior to the tragedy, was teaching her 16-year-old how to drive. “He wanted, in the last few years, to really just soak them up and spend as much time with them as he could.”

As for her mom: “She was just the sweetest lady ever. She loved her grandchildren. She loved babies. She was always a homemaker, always taking care of kids, always looking out for other children. I remember, growing up and going to Girl Scout camps or field trips, she always brought extra clothes or an extra lunch for some other kid who didn’t have enough. She was really just a sweet lady.”

In a Facebook post, Michelle also shared a message of hope in the aftermath of this tragedy.

“Truly my heart and my brain cannot grasp what has happened,” she wrote. “It’s too much. I do take comfort in knowing that my parents are together. They accepted Jesus as their Savior in August of 1989. They were baptized on the same day I was. Our life on this earth is but a vapor, compared to eternity. My parents went to Branson to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. They are now on a permanent vacation in the best destination, heaven.

“When tragedies like this happen,” she added, “many people ask, ‘Why would God allow this to happen?’ Bad, tragic events have taken place in this world ever since Eve ate the fruit [in the Garden of Eden]…. But God is always good! He made a way for things to be made right again when He sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins.”

Michelle asked for prayer for her family, that God would give them strength as they grieve in days to come and that she would be sensitive to her children’s needs during this time.

    About the Author

  • Ben Hawkins

    Ben Hawkins is associate editor of The Pathway (mbcpathway.com), newsjournal of the Missouri Baptist Convention.

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