Junior Rasmussen
Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman Byler were two newlyweds from Texas who were tragically killed in a helicopter crash in November 2018. The couple had just left their wedding reception and were en route to the airport to begin their honeymoon when the helicopter crashed in Uvalde County, Texas. The pilot, Gerald Douglas Lawrence, was also killed in the crash. The cause of the crash was under investigation by the Department of Public Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Couple's Names | Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman Byler |
| Age | Both 23 |
| Occupations | Will: Agriculture Engineering student; Bailee: Agricultural Communication student |
| Helicopter Pilot | Gerald Douglas Lawrence, 76 |
| Wedding Location | Family ranch in Uvalde, Texas |
| Crash Location | Northwest of Uvalde, Texas |
| Date of Crash | November 3, 2018 |
| Time of Crash | Shortly after midnight |
| Cause of Crash | Under investigation |
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What You'll Learn
Tragic helicopter crash
Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman Byler were killed in a helicopter crash in Uvalde County, Texas, shortly after their wedding. The couple had just been married and were flying to the airport to begin their honeymoon. The helicopter reportedly crashed into a rural hillside north of Uvalde, killing the couple and the pilot, 76-year-old Gerald Douglas Lawrence.
The cause of the crash was under investigation by the Department of Public Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration. The wreckage was discovered shortly after sunrise on Sunday by authorities.
The couple's tragic death shocked their community, with many paying tribute to their love and kind hearts. Bailee's maid of honor, Jessica Stilley, expressed her grief on Facebook, mourning the loss of her best friend. The school's paper also released a statement, remembering the couple as Bearkats with ""kind hearts".
The outpouring of support and the moving tributes from friends and family are a testament to the impact Will and Bailee had on those around them. Their funeral services were attended by hundreds, with mourners exchanging hugs and offering comfort to one another. The couple was buried side by side in the Byler family cemetery in Uvalde.
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The couple's education
Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman Byler were both students at Sam Houston State University. Will was studying agriculture engineering and was a member of the school's rodeo team. Bailee was studying agricultural communication and was a longtime member of the FFA (Future Farmers of America).
Will and Bailee were both 23 years old when they got married, although one source lists their age as 24. They were college sweethearts and had met at university.
The couple got married at a family ranch in Uvalde, Texas, surrounded by their family and friends. The wedding was described by friends as magical and "the most beautiful wedding" they had ever witnessed.
The newlyweds left their wedding reception in a helicopter, intending to fly to a local airport and then on to their honeymoon destination. Unfortunately, the helicopter crashed into the side of a hill in Uvalde County, killing both Will and Bailee, as well as the pilot, Gerald Douglas Lawrence.
The cause of the crash was investigated by the Department of Public Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration but is not mentioned in the sources.
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Tributes from friends and family
The tragic deaths of Texas newlyweds Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman Byler in a helicopter crash, just hours after their wedding, left their friends and family devastated. The couple's loved ones took to social media to express their grief and pay tribute to the couple.
Jessica Stilley, Ackerman's maid of honour, wrote on Facebook: "My sweet Bailee Raye, my heart is broken in a million little pieces as I sit here and think of the rest of my life without my best friend". Another friend, abbie_grace_, shared on Instagram: "Last night we celebrated the love of Will & Bailee Byler. Two precious lives taken from us too soon. They were absolutely perfect. They had the kind of love you dream about. Bailee was the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen! I looked up to her so much! I’ll cherish our memories together forever. Love you, my sweet friend".
A family friend, Eric Smith, shared a Facebook post, saying: "We celebrated their fairy tale wedding and they were surrounded by their family and friends as they flew off in the family helicopter. Sadly, they crashed into the side of a hill about a mile from the family ranch. Please keep everyone associated with this tragic event in your prayers".
Darian Milam, a friend, shared her memories of the couple on social media: "When she met Will, he stole her heart and turned her world around. Last night was the most magical wedding I have ever witnessed and I am so blessed to have gotten to celebrate Bailee and Will’s beautiful wedding with them".
The couple's wedding venue, Turning Point Church in Vidor, was filled with mourners, with attendees overflowing into the open field behind the church. The couple was laid to rest side by side in the Byler family cemetery in Uvalde, following a second service in Bellville United Methodist.
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The investigation
The cause of the crash is still unknown, and authorities are working to determine what led to the tragic accident. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Public Safety are investigating the incident, according to reports. The helicopter was owned by Will Byler's father but was piloted by Lawrence, a trusted family friend and a veteran of the Vietnam War.
Friends and family of the couple have taken to social media to express their grief and pay tribute to the newlyweds. The school that the couple attended, Sam Houston State University, also released a statement, remembering the couple for their ""kind hearts".
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The funeral
A second service and burial took place the following day in Bellville United Methodist, and the couple were buried side by side in the Byler family cemetery in Uvalde.
Friends and family paid tribute to the couple on social media, with one person writing: ""My sweet Bailee Raye, my heart is broken in a million little pieces as I sit here and think of the rest of my life without my best friend." Another wrote: "Last night was the most magical wedding I have ever witnessed and I am so blessed to have gotten to celebrate Bailee and Will's beautiful wedding with them."
The pilot of the helicopter, Gerald Douglas Lawrence, was also killed in the crash.
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Frequently asked questions
Bailee Ackerman Byler.
At a family ranch in Uvalde, Texas.
They were killed in a helicopter crash just hours after their wedding.
Gerald Douglas Lawrence, a trusted family friend.
Will was studying agriculture engineering, and Bailee was studying agricultural communication.
