Posted 11:59 pm Saturday, February 04, 2012
Teacher, 26, Killed In Accident
By JACQUE HILBURN-SIMMONS
Staff Writer
Authorities are trying to piece together details to explain Thursday’s unexpected death of a 26-year-old Van woman.
Kelsie Edwards Raulston, formerly of Tyler, died of injuries suffered in an outdoor accident, reported around 12:20 p.m. in Van, authorities said.
Officials did not release a specific location, saying it was within the city of Van.
More details can be released in the coming days, as they become available, Van Police Chief Tony Richardson said.
“It is appearing that it was an accident,” Richardson said. “She was killed in an accident involving a piece of equipment, and we’re going through the process of elimination” to confirm what happened.
“She was clearing land of timber, that’s really about all we are saying at this time,” Richardson said.
Staff Writer
Authorities are trying to piece together details to explain Thursday’s unexpected death of a 26-year-old Van woman.
Kelsie Edwards Raulston, formerly of Tyler, died of injuries suffered in an outdoor accident, reported around 12:20 p.m. in Van, authorities said.
Officials did not release a specific location, saying it was within the city of Van.
More details can be released in the coming days, as they become available, Van Police Chief Tony Richardson said.
“It is appearing that it was an accident,” Richardson said. “She was killed in an accident involving a piece of equipment, and we’re going through the process of elimination” to confirm what happened.
“She was clearing land of timber, that’s really about all we are saying at this time,” Richardson said.
Additional information, including the official cause of death, will be available after Ben Wheeler Justice of the Peace Scott Shinn concludes his inquest, the chief said.
Mrs. Raulston’s obituary describes her as an outstanding athlete, outdoor enthusiast and educator.
She was born in Tyler and relocated later to the Dallas area, graduating high school in Mansfield.
Information provided by family members for her obituary describes her as an outstanding athlete, earning the First Team Class 5A All-State Basketball award in 2002.
She was a member of the Mansfield Lady Tigers basketball team that set state records for winning four championships in a row, and played in college for the University of North Texas, her obituary states.
Mrs. Raulston’s obituary describes her as an outstanding athlete, outdoor enthusiast and educator.
She was born in Tyler and relocated later to the Dallas area, graduating high school in Mansfield.
Information provided by family members for her obituary describes her as an outstanding athlete, earning the First Team Class 5A All-State Basketball award in 2002.
She was a member of the Mansfield Lady Tigers basketball team that set state records for winning four championships in a row, and played in college for the University of North Texas, her obituary states.
Other records show she returned to Tyler and started work on degrees in education and history from The University of Texas at Tyler.
Those goals were completed in 2008, the same year she married John Raulston, a former UT Tyler student who teaches government at Kilgore College, records show.
Family members said the couple loved spending time together, traveling and riding in their Jeep, according to her obituary.
Her stepmother, Stephanie Edwards, of Murchison, said Kelsie was a special person who touched a lot of lives.
“She just inspired a lot of people,” Mrs. Edwards said.
Mrs. Raulston is listed as an educator with The Ranch Academy in Tyler, according to the school’s website.
No one could be reached at the school late Friday.
Her educator profile states she taught classes in social studies, English language arts and physical education, the website states.
On her educator profile, Mrs. Raulston lists a wide variety of outdoor personal interests, including watching her brothers play college football.
“Other than traveling and spending time with my family, I enjoy off-roading in our jeep, fly-fishing, working out, watching TV shows and most of all serving the Lord,” her profile states.
Visitation is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hilliard Funeral Home in Van; burial is set for 2 p.m. Sunday at Barton’s Chapel Assembly of God, near Murchison.
Those goals were completed in 2008, the same year she married John Raulston, a former UT Tyler student who teaches government at Kilgore College, records show.
Family members said the couple loved spending time together, traveling and riding in their Jeep, according to her obituary.
Her stepmother, Stephanie Edwards, of Murchison, said Kelsie was a special person who touched a lot of lives.
“She just inspired a lot of people,” Mrs. Edwards said.
Mrs. Raulston is listed as an educator with The Ranch Academy in Tyler, according to the school’s website.
No one could be reached at the school late Friday.
Her educator profile states she taught classes in social studies, English language arts and physical education, the website states.
On her educator profile, Mrs. Raulston lists a wide variety of outdoor personal interests, including watching her brothers play college football.
“Other than traveling and spending time with my family, I enjoy off-roading in our jeep, fly-fishing, working out, watching TV shows and most of all serving the Lord,” her profile states.
Visitation is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hilliard Funeral Home in Van; burial is set for 2 p.m. Sunday at Barton’s Chapel Assembly of God, near Murchison.
