Friends of Canton woman killed by drunken driver organize bowling fundraiser to pay for funeral
Editor's note: The story has been updated to correct the location of the bowling alley where the fundraiser will be held.
Stephanie Stone was looking forward to celebrating Halloween with her family and posted photographs on her Facebook page showing her carving pumpkins with her two children.
On Tuesday, after finishing her shift at Dairy Queen in Canton Township, she picked up her children from their grandparents’ Ypsilanti Township home, friends said.
As Stone was driving home to Canton, investigators say a drunken driver ran a red light in Ypsilanti Township and slammed into her car, killing her and critically injuring her 13-year-old son.
Deputies investigate the fatal crash Tuesday evening.
Now, her family and friends are organizing a bowling fundraiser at Town N Country Lanes on Wayne Road in Westland on Nov. 9 to pay for her funeral, said her friend, Page McLaughlin of Belleville. Stone didn't have life insurance, McLaughlin said.
“I think we all sit back and think it could be us,” McLaughlin said. “What if it was our family?”
Jennifer Willet of Wayne, who is organizing the fundraiser, said it costs $20 a person, which covers two games of 9-pin bowling, a shoe rental, pizza and pop.
“I couldn’t even imagine what the family’s going through right now,” Willet said. “The kids should have a proper burial for their mother. It teaches them that people do care.”
Stephanie Stone, 32, is survived by her husband, Bill Stone, who works for a cab company in the area, McLaughlin said. She also is survived by her children, 13-year-old Brandon Miller and 11-year-old Savanna Miller. Brandon remains in intensive care at the University of Michigan Hospital, McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin said Stone loved her children and supported them.
“She was always just a very kind-hearted person, willing to help anyone out when she could,” she said. “She liked to spend time with the kids. She liked to take them to carnivals and do special things for them.”
Bradley Wayne Howard, 34, of Ypsilanti Township, faces charges in the crash, including second-degree murder and operating while intoxicated causing death.
Howard made a choice that affected a lot of people, McLaughlin said.
“I figure some day he’ll get his justice in the court system, and some day he’ll have to answer to a higher power," McLaughlin said.
The fundraiser is Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. at Town N Country Lanes, 1100 South Wayne Road in Westland. To donate money for the funeral, checks can be mailed to Stark Funeral Service at 101 S. Washington Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. The checks should be made out to "Stark Funeral Service" in care of Stephanie Stone.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Deborah
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 12:29 p.m.
IF convicted of 2nd degree murder then the minimum is 20 or 25 years but given his record sentencing on any charge will be at the high end. This man may also be mentally ill to a certain extent given his driving and criminal record which is a reasonable consideration for any sentencing that may happen to him. I have seen this guy driving around my neighborhood and I am glad he is off the road but heartbroken a criminal justice and health system that could have kept him off the road FAILED TO DO SO until blood was spilled. Who gave him the keys? If someone can go to jail for giving a drug addict money who dies of an overdose then why not prosecute the person who owned the car or gave him access to the keys?
Pika
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 9:54 a.m.
Based on a recent similar case that I followed, the sentence will likely be only a few years (in the case I'm thinking of the person got 2 years!?? Maybe that was mitigated because the person was also badly injured in that wreck - I don't know). This guy should never ever get behind the wheel of a car again. I don't know what the sentence should be but I'm worried that it won't be enough to deter this reckless behavior. If steps are not taken to prevent this guy from ever driving again, he could well do this exact thing again.
j bredell
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 3:35 a.m.
Please advise your friend to make a no fault claim with her auto insurer. She likely has some coverage for funeral expenses and also for the loss of income that her children will no longer receive.
jcj
Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 9:27 p.m.
It does seem some times there is more concern for animals than humans. But I believe part of that is because we don't know how to react to a tragedy like this and we don't want to cause more pain to the family.
SillyTree
Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 9:22 p.m.
I don't think it comes from a better love of dogs. I think it comes from a fear of our own vulnerability.
MyOpinion
Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 8:53 p.m.
Seems like the dog that got hit by the pizza driver and needed expensive surgery got more community interest than this funeral story. I hope in the end, this fundraiser is successful.
julieswhimsies
Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 5:20 p.m.
This is beyond sad...