In Loving Memory of Josy, Ada Kepley, and the Archie Williams High School Students Lost in the West Marin Tragedy
“Sometimes there are no words, only tears and the quiet ache of hearts trying to understand.”
WOODACRE, Calif. — A wave of heartbreaking grief has enveloped Marin County following a devastating car accident in West Marin that claimed the lives of six teenage girls, including beloved Archie Williams High School students Josy and Ada Kepley. The crash occurred along the winding, tree-lined stretch of San Geronimo Valley Drive, near Woodacre, leaving behind shattered dreams, unanswered questions, and a community struggling to cope with the weight of loss too great to measure.
As news of the tragedy spread, so did the sorrow. Over the weekend, the crash site became a makeshift memorial, where classmates, teachers, family members, and neighbors gathered to lay flowers, candles, photographs, and handwritten notes, paying tribute to the vibrant young lives so suddenly and tragically taken. Amid the silence and tears, stories were shared—of laughter, friendship, promise, and the ordinary, beautiful moments that made Josy and Ada unforgettable.
Josy and Ada Kepley were more than just names. They were bright lights in the halls of Archie Williams High School, known for their kindness, creativity, and their bond as sisters and friends. Whether in class, on the field, in music, or simply walking through campus with warm smiles, the Kepley sisters left an indelible impression on everyone they met. Their friendship was effortless. Their presence, comforting. Their futures — filled with potential and hope — were just beginning to unfold.
To their classmates, they were peers and confidants. To teachers, they were the kind of students who made the day brighter. To family and friends, they were cherished beyond measure — daughters, sisters, granddaughters, and companions whose love and laughter will forever echo in the hearts they leave behind.
The crash has not only robbed these girls of their future, but has also left a deep wound across the Archie Williams school community, where vigils are being planned, counseling services offered, and students are leaning on each other in shared grief. School officials and counselors have expressed their deep condolences and unwavering support for the affected families, encouraging students to speak, to mourn, and to remember.
What happened along that rural road has forever altered the fabric of this community. Six young lives gone too soon — a reminder of how fragile life is, and how quickly it can change. But amid the devastation, the community has also shown strength: coming together in candlelight vigils, in moments of silence, in shared embraces — honoring not just the loss, but the lives, spirits, and dreams of those who are now gone.
As we remember Josy and Ada Kepley, we hold close the joy they brought into this world. We honor their kindness, their dreams, and the love they gave so freely. We mourn with the families of all six girls — their sorrow now carried by an entire community.
There are no perfect words in moments like these. But in the silence, in the tributes, and in the unity of this grieving town, there is something powerful: remembrance. And it is through remembrance that Josy, Ada, and their friends will never be forgotten.
Rest in peace, Josy. Rest in peace, Ada.
May your spirits soar beyond the trees that line the valley road.
And may those left behind find comfort in the love that surrounds them now.