'THEY WERE SUCH HAPPY KIDS' - The Columbian (Vancouver, WA)

One woman spoke for so many others, voice choked with sobs: 'Idon't have words. We love you.'

She spoke at the funeral for 8-year-old Tyson Schram and hissister, 7-year-old Jasmine Warren, who died after being struck by acar Saturday five blocks from home.

More than 300 people turned out for the Thursday service at FirstUnited Methodist Church in Vancouver. The crowd included thechildren's mother, Pam Warren, each child's father, more than 30other family members, friends, neighbors, classmates and strangers.

The Rev. Willie F. Pride refused to call it a funeral service,choosing instead the phrase 'home-going celebration.' Pride overseesEverlasting Missionary Baptist Church in Rosemere, where bothchildren attended vacation Bible school last year.

Two white coffins stood at the front of the sanctuary, drapedwith flowers. A stuffed pink bunny rested on the altar steps. Abouquet of blue balloons rose behind that.

The Rev. James Hobbs, assisting Pride in Thursday's service,described the children this way: 'Two roses that God has calledhome. It is not goodbye, but until we see you on heaven's side.'

Seven-tenths of a mile from First Methodist, east down 33rdStreet and then north on P Street, a roadside memorial marks thespot where Tyson and Jasmine were struck at 4:50 p.m. Saturday by apassing vehicle.

Tyson died at the scene. Jasmine died later at a Portlandhospital. The two had been heading home from a trip to buy treats ata neighborhood market.

At the roadside memorial earlier this week, eight balloons waftedin the breeze, anchored within a menagerie of stuffed animals and asmall forest of flowers gathering dew.

Twenty-seven candles lined the curb, one tucked into a Bumble Beetuna can, others flickering faintly after hours of slow burning.

There were photos, notes and poems. A hand-drawn message in child-sized scrawl read, 'I miss you guys.'

'Watch over Jasmine'

Wednesday evening, Pam Warren spent several hours sitting next toher children's coffins at Evergreen Staples Funeral Chapel inMinnehaha.

'She has some more words to say to them,' said her boyfriend,Troy Thompson.

Later, Warren arrived home to a cramped apartment in Rosemere.Surrounded by a dozen family members, including her two youngestchildren, Destiny and Malachi, Warren looked shell-shocked, empty.

She found a sliver of comfort in the fact that Jasmine will beburied with her favorite Mickey Mouse blanket, a newborn giftsoftened by years of use.

'They were happy kids, just happy kids, such happy kids,' Warrensaid. 'Other kids loved to be around them.'

They played freeze tag and slip-and-slide in the summer, amid agaggle of neighborhood kids who shared Popsicles and laughter.

Tyson, she said, was athletic, artistic, protective of his littlesister. He also was eager to grow up.

'He couldn't wait to get a job and start making money,' Warrensaid, adding that the boy already was a 'little businessman,'selling people grocery coupons.

Jasmine danced and laughed, leaped and spun like a ballerina. Shehad a bright smile, and classmates described her as soft-spoken, agood listener, always a friend.

'They were very affectionate and loving,' she said.

A classmate, second-grader Jordan Harris, this week wrote a noteto the two children, visualizing them playing together in heaven:'Tyson, please watch over Jasmine so that she doesn't fall in theclouds.'

Warren looked away as the words were read aloud Wednesday nightin her living room. Eyes red-rimmed, she didn't speak for almost aminute.

'I forgot to tell you,' she said, voice flat. 'Jasmine was themost beautiful child in the world.'

Uncertain cause

Vancouver police continue to investigate the accident.

Tamara Cashdollar, 30, was driving south in the 3400 block of PStreet, toward her nearby home, when for undetermined reasons hersport-utility vehicle swerved and struck the two children. Two orthree other children on the roadside police aren't yet certain ofthe number were uninjured.

Some witnesses say Jasmine and Tyson were riding together on asingle bike. Others say Jasmine was on the bike, and Tyson waswalking behind.

Police say Cashdollar is in shock after the accident and hasn'tbeen able to provide a detailed account. They plan to interview heragain, perhaps next week.

Cashdollar and her 5-year-old son were treated for minor injuriesafter the accident. Her phone has been disconnected, and no oneappeared to be at home this week at the Cashdollar residence.

'Drive safely'

Half a mile from Evergreen Staples Funeral Chapel, where PamWarren sat vigil Wednesday evening beside her children's coffins,there is another roadside memorial, visible to all who pass.

There, at St. James and Arnold roads, an elaborate tribute forJosh D. Raley stands as a reminder of enduring love and grief.Raley, 14, died after the car in which he was riding struck a treeon July 3, 1999, at that corner.

More than two years later, shiny red hearts, Christmas ornamentsand other decorations mark the passing of holidays.

A headstone bears the words 'Live, love and laugh in memory ofJoshua Devin Raley.'

Other words are carved into another stone: 'If tears could builda stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven andbring you home again.'

Beyond that, a sign stands at the roadside: 'Drive safely inmemory of Josh D. Raley.'

And now in memory of Tyson and Jasmine, too.

Donations needed:

. Donations to offset funeral costs for Tyson Schram and JasmineWarren may be sent to: Evergreen Staples Funeral Chapel, 4700 N.E.St. Johns Road, Vancouver, WA 98661.