Deceased Free State senior loved music

Monday, May 4, 2009

Friends, teachers and fellow Lawrence Free State High School choir members gathered in the school’s music room Sunday afternoon to remember Aezra DuttonHurt, an 18-year-old senior who died at Naismith Hall on Friday morning. The cause of his death has not yet been determined.

“This was his sanctuary,” Hilary Morton, director of choirs at Free State, said of the music room.

DuttonHurt was a member of all four of Free State’s choirs and friends said was passionate about music.

“If he wasn’t singing, he was on the computer, working on making his own music,” Kathy Olcott-Marshall, a friend of DuttonHurt, said. “He really wanted to teach music, too.”

Morton said DuttonHurt had been accepted to the University and was looking forward to majoring in vocal performance or music education. DuttonHurt had a difficult home life at times, but found solace in his musical talent, she said.

“Music was something he knew he was good at, something he felt good doing. He felt the most free and appreciated when he was singing,” she said.

Morton said DuttonHurt had been staying with various friends for about a month, including several KU students who made up a “strong support system.”

Many friends are dealing with feelings of guilt as they wonder what more they could have done, Morton said.

DuttonHurt’s death was the third on or near campus in two months.

“All we can do is learn from these things or these people die in vain,” Morton said.

Both the University and Free State have provided counselors for students.

“We’re deeply saddened to learn of this tragedy and extend our heartfelt sympathies to the DuttonHurt family,” Randy Weseman, Lawrence Public Schools superintendent, said in a media release.

Olcott-Marshall said DuttonHurt had cared for her “like a second big brother” and that he would be missed by many people.

“He was a very intelligent and talented person who was taken from us too soon,” Morton said.

A visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street.

— — Edited by Sonya English

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