Rhiannon Hendricks
Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman were college sweethearts who got married in a fairytale wedding in Uvalde, Texas, in November 2018. The couple, both 23 or 24 years old, were killed in a helicopter crash just hours after their wedding. The tragic accident shocked the community and left many mourning the loss of the newlyweds, who were described as having kind hearts. Will and Bailee's story is a heartbreaking reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.
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What You'll Learn
Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman Byler's helicopter crash
Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman Byler were killed in a helicopter crash shortly after their wedding. The couple, both 24, were en route to the airport to begin their honeymoon when the helicopter crashed in Uvalde County, Texas, killing them and the pilot, 76-year-old Gerald Douglas Lawrence.
The helicopter was owned by the Byler family, and Lawrence had been a pilot for the family for years. The couple were students at Sam Houston State University, where they met, and were surrounded by family and friends as they flew off from the Byler family ranch in Uvalde, Texas, following their wedding reception.
A wedding guest captured video of the couple's departure on board the doomed aircraft. The helicopter was in the air for just five to ten minutes before it crashed into a rocky hillside about a mile from the family ranch. The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident, which involved a Bell 206B helicopter, but it is unclear what caused the crash.
The couple's funeral was held on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at Turning Point Church in Vidor, Texas.
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The couple's funeral services
The Couples Funeral Services
The funeral services for Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman Byler were held shortly after their tragic deaths. The couple, both 23 or 24 years old, were killed in a helicopter crash just hours after their wedding. The first of two joint visitation and funeral services took place on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at Turning Point Church in Vidor, Texas.
The service was attended by hundreds of mourners, including friends and family members who had been present at the wedding just days before. The mourners exchanged hugs as they gathered around the two hearses that brought the bodies to the church. The pallbearers for the service included Rowdy Parrott, Caleb Smidt, Tye Holloway, and Tyler Jones, among others.
The couple's bodies were then delivered to Bellville United Methodist for a second round of services and burial on Friday. The specific details of this service are not publicly available, but it is known that the couple was laid to rest following the tragic accident.
The funeral services honoured the memory of Will and Bailee, who were described as having "kind hearts" and leaving lasting impacts on those who knew them. Their fairy tale wedding and tragic end were remembered by those in attendance, with mourners sharing tributes to the couple on social media and in the press. The services provided an opportunity for loved ones to grieve and celebrate the lives of Will and Bailee, who left this world too soon but will forever be remembered.
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Tributes from family and friends
The tragic deaths of Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman Byler in a helicopter crash shortly after their wedding left their family and friends devastated. The couple was surrounded by loved ones as they embarked on their honeymoon in a helicopter, which crashed in Uvalde County, Texas.
The bride's maid of honour, Jessica Stilley, expressed her grief 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, Eric Smith, shared similar sentiments: "We celebrated their fairy tale wedding and they were surrounded by their family and friends as they flew off in the family helicopter... Please keep everyone associated with this tragic event in your prayers."
Madi Wagner, a friend, shared a touching tribute on Instagram: "These two spent their last day on this earth celebrating with their most cherished loved ones—I believe it truly was the best day of their lives... Mr. & Mrs. Byler will join our Jesus in heaven and have the most abundant marriage with no troubles, no temptation, no worries."
Darian Milam, a friend, also recalled the magical wedding: "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."
Hundreds gathered at Turning Point Church in Vidor for the visitation and funeral services, with mourners exchanging hugs as they remembered the joyful couple.
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The couple's backgrounds and interests
Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman were both 23 or 24 years old when they tragically died in a helicopter crash after their wedding. The couple met at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, where they were both seniors studying agriculture. Will was studying agriculture engineering and was an accomplished member of the school's rodeo team. Bailee was studying agriculture communication and was a longtime member of the FFA (Future Farmers of America).
Bailee was born on September 29, 1995, in Orange, Tx, and grew up with a love for animals, rodeo, and people. She was involved in youth rodeo and received numerous awards and honours in FFA, where she loved showing goats and swine. She attended Orangefield High School and had a strong Christian faith.
Will grew up loving the outdoors and enjoyed rodeoing, hunting, and tending to his cattle, dogs, and horses. His favourite place to be was at his family's ranch in Uvalde, and he often jumped at the opportunity to ride in a helicopter. He lived life to the fullest and embraced adventure, with Bailee describing their life together as always being on some kind of "Will adventure".
The couple's wedding took place on November 3, 2018, at the Byler family ranch in Uvalde, Texas. The newlyweds were surrounded by family and friends as they departed in a helicopter for their honeymoon. Unfortunately, the helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff, and Will and Bailee lost their lives along with the pilot, Gerald Douglas Lawrence.
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The wedding reception
The reception was a fairy tale wedding, with the couple surrounded by their family and friends. The bride and groom then departed the reception in a helicopter, which was owned by the family, to fly to the airport for their honeymoon. The helicopter was piloted by a trusted family friend, Gerald Douglas Lawrence.
The couple's wedding party included pallbearers Rowdy Parrott, Caleb Smidt, Tye Holloway, Tyler Jones, Troy Lee Keaton, Drew Elliott, Rhett Sbrusch, and Wyatt Sbrusch. The honorary pallbearers were Wesley Ackerman, Blaze Byler, Zach Leger, Keaton Denio, Rhett Wilson, Kegan Inglish, Jessie Rosales, Caleb Cogbill, Thomas Reeves, Tyson Arledge, Gabe Leau, Parker Kempfer, and Remey Parrott.
The wedding was described by a friend on social media as "the best day of their lives" and "the most magical wedding I have ever witnessed". The newlyweds were remembered by their kind hearts and for living life to the fullest.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman were killed in a helicopter crash shortly after their wedding. The couple were on their way to the airport to begin their honeymoon.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Will Byler was studying agriculture engineering at university and was a member of the rodeo team. He loved the outdoors and being at the family ranch in Uvalde. Bailee Ackerman was studying agriculture communication and was a longtime member of the FFA. She was named after her grandfather, Walter Ray Cox, and shared his love for animals and rodeo.
