Kylie Paige Benkert

Kylie Paige Benkert, 20, of Dowagiac, along with the love of her life, Jaylen Weller, passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2016, from injuries sustained in an auto accident.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at Clark Chapel & Cremation Services, 405 Center St, Dowagiac. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Dowagiac. Friends may visit with the family from 11:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp.  Those wishing to sign Kylie’s Memory Book online may do so at www.clarkch.com.  Kylie was born on September 3, 1996 in Paw Paw, MI to Chad & Dana (Bombrys) Benkert. She graduated from Dowagiac Union High School in 2015. While playing softball for Dowagiac Little Legue, Kylie was lovingly given the nickname “Blue” by her softball coach, Rodney Stockwell, because of her hair color at the time. She was also known as the “cool cousin” by her family. Kylie was very creative and wasn’t bashful about showing her artistic side. She enjoyed caring for animals of all kinds, especially her cats, Zelda and Mr. Kitty. Kylie loved her family & friends and will be deeply missed by all.  Kylie is survived by her parents, Pastor Chad & Dana Benkert of Dowagiac; brother, Jeremy Benkert of Dowagiac; grandparents, Sheryl (Norman) Burns of Dowagiac, Ronald Benkert of Nunica, MI, Mary (Don) Pastorick of Marcellus; aunts & uncles, Sheri (Ben) Baker, Amanda (Buddy) Maggert, Rev. Dr. Todd (Heidi) Benkert, Carl Bombrys, Clay Bombrys; numerous cousins; and her adopted siblings, Brandy Beach of Georgia, Cleve Epperson III of Elkhart, IN, Jason Little of IN and Kasi Zawacki of MT.