THUNDER BAY -- The second morning after Skye Patayash found out she was 12 weeks pregnant, she awoke to text messages telling her the baby wouldn't have a father.
The Deer Lake First Nation resident was dating 20-year-old Stacy Kejick, who was killed in a hit-and-run collision on Court Street at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Her first thought was that her baby would never meet the young man known to his friends as J.R.
By Sunday, Patayash had flown to Winnipeg and was driving to Thunder Bay where a GoFundMe campaign has been established to pay for Kejick's memorial service.
"He was nice and always happy," Patayash said.
"Thanks for the support that everybody's been giving. I want them to know that he was always there for the people -- and to be happy."
The fundraising campaign was set up by his former girlfriend, Jenna Dawn Williamson. Their son James Joseph Kejick celebrated his third birthday in September. She, too, received the early-morning call.
"Words can't describe how I felt," she said.
"It was very heartbreaking. I don't even know what to say."
Williamson, who has remained close with Kejick's mother over the seven years the pair have known each other, said the family can't afford a memorial service. If fundraising exceeds funeral costs, the proceeds will go to supporting his children.
"He loved spending time with his son. I know he was really excited to meet his new one on the way," she said.
"He loved spending time with family and friends. That's who he was surrounded by all the time."
Donations for the ceremony are being accepted at: https://www.gofundme.com/jn724qhn
