Friends of
South Kitsap native Holly Mattson will hold a benefit concert
for her on Sept. 30 at Neumos
nightclub in Seattle to help her with steep medical bills
incurred from a horrific
July 26 car crash that claimed the life of her friend
Douglas W. Simmons III of Fife, also originally from South
Kitsap.
Changes are pending against the Auburn woman who hit the car Simmons was driving broadside. The woman allegedly was traveling at speeds up to 80 miles per hour while fleeing a Federal Way police officer when the collision occurred.
Mattson, who was a passenger in Simmons car, has rough days since the accident but remains the upbeat person friends from Marcus Whitman Junior High School and South Kitsap High School remember. She is taking “baby steps but in the right direction,” she said on a recent Facebook post.
Mattson only learned that Simmons had died after she got out of the intensive care unit.
“My ex-husband and my three boys all came in and surrounded my bed,” Mattson said, in an e-mail to the Kitsap Sun. “They said I had to know and proceeded to tell me. I stopped them after hearing about Doug’s death. My heart was instantly broke.
“He was such a good guy and the waves of tears hit me without warning over him,” Mattson said. “He was a wonderful dad and family was the most important thing in the world to him. He was a true man in his walk in this life.”
Mattson, formerly of Oregon and the Seattle area, for now is living with family in Port Orchard. She is somewhat overwhelmed by the outpouring of support that has buoyed her since she first remembers regaining consciousness in the hospital.
“I am so humble over the outreach from everyone on this whole tragic event. I really cannot even form words other then being ‘Thankful,’” she said. “You ask how I am right now. I am better then yesterday. I say that I feel like my heart, my mind and my body are broken, but honestly, my spirit has been strong throughout and I owe that to all the love and support of friends and family.”
Find the story on Mattson’s heroic recovery in today’s Kitsap Sun.
Friends, spearheaded by Dave Dayton, also formerly of South Kitsap, now of Seattle, have organized this concert at Neumos, entitled “There is a Light That Never Goes Out.” The concert will feature 10 bands covering The Smiths, a 1980s rock band (details below).
I didn’t realize how eerily poignant the name of the event was until I looked for The Smiths on You Tube and found this video.
“There is a Light That Never Goes Out”
What: A benefit concert for South Kitsap native Holly Mattson.
When: 8 p.m. Sept. 30
Where: Neumos, 925 East Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98122-3816; (206)
709-9442
More Information: Find organizer Dave Dayton on Facebook,
e-mail
openheart_70@yahoo.com or visit www.neumos.com.
Bands: Leeni, Like Lightning and Guests, Bradford in Taxco, Leslie
Beattie,
Trentalange, Mikey Davis (Calligraphers), Joshua Morrison, The
Small Change,
Aaron Mannino and The Missionary Position.
