Jacqueline or “Jacky” Nunez was born on October 28, 2006. At the age of 16, she passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2023. She was the youngest of four siblings. Jacky was a sophomore at Piute High School. She loved playing sports such as volleyball, basketball, cross country, softball, and track and field. Jacky was known for her amazing style and contagious laugh. Whenever Jacky laughed, everyone in the room would laugh. She was a ray of sunshine. She was a kind, funny, smart, brave, talented young lady. Jacky’s funeral was held in the Christ the King Catholic Church in Cedar City on January 16, 2023.
What the Communities Have Done to Help
Since the passing of beloved Jacky, communities, families, schools, businesses and more surrounding Piute County have sent lots of love to the small county. Donations, pink/white-out games in honor of the sophomore, students wearing the number 7 on the back of shirts or on stickers and more acts of kindness have been displayed throughout the tough weeks following the tragedy. Schools inside and outside of Region 20 have taken pictures with students either making hearts or holding up the number 7 and sent them to Piute High School. Signed posters from Panguitch High School and Monticello/Green River are also now hanging up inside by the gym entrance inside Piute High School.
Events In Honor of Jacky
Piute High School held three sports events following the passing of Jacky. Two of these events were basketball games against the Panguitch Bobcats. Fans from both sides of the crowd wore the number 7 on their shirts, as that was Jacky’s volleyball number. Jacky’s favorite color was pink, and sports players could be seen wearing either a pink and gold ribbon in their hair or a pink shoelace tied on their shoe.
The third event was a home wrestling duel against Beaver. This game was themed as a pink-out just for Jacky. Jacky was a manager for wrestling, so the wrestlers set an empty chair aside for her. Pink balloons, flowers and a portrait were placed on and around the empty chair.
Students decorated the windows with the number 7, an outline of Jacky, and inspiration quotes. Inside the gym, pink and green ribbons were tied into bows around the railing on bleachers.
All three games started off with a moment of silence. After the wrestling duel, the students, faculty and families gathered into Piute’s old gym for a candlelight vigil for Jacky. Piute High School’s student council set up music, a slide show, and a table of Jacky’s accomplishments in the gym for bystanders to look at and listen to during the event. Plastic candles were handed out for people to hold onto as they took the time to mourn Jacky. Everyone was welcomed to use a microphone that was passed around to share their favorite memory of Jacky and express their love for her. For most of the vigil, many young students who knew Jacky could be found holding each other mourning the loss of their dear friend. It was a safe space for the students, faculty and family to mourn together.
One last event that Piute did was a balloon release. Pink, green and white balloons were handed out to students of Piute High School as well as Reese’s chocolates. Students and faculty made their way to the east side of the building and stood outside in the parking lot. One final moment of silence was given before the balloons were released to the sky.
Piute Gives Thanks to All
Piute High School thanks all those who have supported the small school the last couple of weeks. Lots of love and support has come through the tragedy, and Piute will forever be thankful. Piute thanks: Wendover High School, Bryce Valley High School, Panguitch High School, Beaver High School, Escalante High School, North Sanpete High School, South Sevier High School, Wayne High School, Green River High School, Monticello High School, Richfield High School, Valley High School, Duchesne High School, Kanab High School, Pinnacle High School, Panguitch Middle School, Milford High School, and Tabiona High School and more for their donations and support. Piute also thanks businesses such as: C&E Custom Tees, Playa Azul, Figgins Food Truck, Legacy Ace, Pangutich Patron and more. The love that has been received has been felt. Piute thanks all who have reached out and supported the school as well as the families involved.
– Ari Hurdsman (18) Junction
Feature image caption: Jacqueline “Jacky” Nunez. Courtesy Jacky’s family.
Ari Hurdsman – Junction
Ari Hurdsman is a junior journalist at the Byway. She just recently moved to Ephraim, Utah, where she is a freshman at Snow College. She enjoys writing about Piute sports, and she’s really good at it! In her free time, she enjoys singing, dancing, reading and hanging out with friends and family.