Colleague Mourns, Carries on to Honor Fallen Crossing Guard

Despite seeing a friend and co-worker fatally injured a day earlier, Jude Higday was at work Friday morning helping kids safely cross Southwest School and West First streets in Ankeny.

One day earlier, Higday, of Ankeny, was working as a crossing guard at and schools alongside 78-year-old Franklyn “Frank” Luttrell. She was there when a vehicle driven by Laurin Cole of Ankeny struck Luttrell, who was preparing to help kids cross the road.

Higday, who worked with Luttrell every weekday, was offered time off but she refused.

“I didn’t take it because I knew I had to be here for the kids,” she said. “They count on me.”

Higday remembers Luttrell as a sweet, loving man who adored children. He came to work Thursday, she said, showing off a new sweatshirt his son bought him.

“He was so happy about that sweatshirt,” Higday said.

They also loved talking about how they would buy warmer coats to make it through this winter as crossing guards, Higday said.

Higday is aware her job is dangerous, but it doesn’t deter her.

“My husband and I pray every morning to have a safe day,” said Higday, whose husband also is a crossing guard in Ankeny. “The Lord protected me yesterday and he’ll continue to do it today.”

Police Chief Gary Mikulec and Curtis Pote of the were also on hand at the intersection Friday morning. Pote said he noticed a decrease in the number of kids walking to school today, but said that could have been because of the rainy weather.

Mikulec agreed he’d seen less kids walking to school Friday.

“It’s likely there are parents with kids who are shaken up by the events of yesterday,” Mikulec said.

When he arrived at the intersection early this morning, Mikulec said there were people at Luttrell’s impromptu memorial, heads bowed in prayer.

Luttrell’s memorial has grown a bit in size since . Ankeny residents, some who knew and some who did not know Luttrell, have added to it by leaving bouquets of flowers and signs that say, “Thank you, Frank – God Bless,” and “In Memory of Franklyn Luttrell.”

Higday said some drivers are showing more caution today, but not all.

“If you’re in such a hurry to get somewhere, you should leave earlier so you don’t have to rush,” she said.