Services set for Moscow victims

Crystal Hamilton’s obituary sums up her life in a few brief paragraphs: She enjoyed arts and crafts as well as gardening. She had a deep love for animals and exotic birds. She had a baby boy who died.

They are memories that friends and family will share Saturday in a private service in Moscow.

Hamilton, 30, was one of three people killed by her husband last weekend in a burst of violence in Moscow that still has the quiet Palouse town reeling.

The funeral for one of Jason Hamilton’s other victims, Moscow police Sgt. Lee Newbill, will be held Friday at the University of Idaho. Idaho Gov. Butch Otter plans to attend the service, his press secretary Jon Hanian said Wednesday.

A community candlelight vigil will be held later in the day.

No services have been announced for church caretaker Paul Bauer, 62, also killed in Hamilton’s shooting spree.

In a statement Wednesday, UI President Tim White touched on the raw emotions gripping residents of the city and the campus community.

“We are not always safe, and we cannot always trust those around us,” White said.

“Yet we must summon the will not to waver in our commitment to having a safe and secure community in which to live, learn, discover, work and prosper. Indeed, Moscow is a wonderful, welcoming and proud community. There is remarkable resolve, collectively and individually, to reclaim our town from this and other recent, aberrant, yet very real events.”

Newbill, 48, a UI graduate, previously served as the university’s night watchman.

He and his wife, Becky, met through the college’s ROTC program. They had three children.

Newbill is the first Moscow officer killed in the line of duty. His funeral will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the Kibbie Dome – a venue large enough to accommodate the memorial ceremony.

White said the college will open its food service and residence halls to provide meals and lodging for the many law enforcement officers from throughout the region who will participate in the funeral.

Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson said his department will send at least eight officers to attend the service and participate in the funeral processional.

“That’s a respectful thing we do for each other,” Watson said.

Spokane Police plan on sending all motorcycle officers as well as an honor guard, said Officer Tim Moses. Other officers who are not on duty may also attend.

A guestbook has been set up at the city of Moscow Web site for anyone wishing to leave comments about Newbill or offer condolences. The address is www.ci.moscow.id.us/police/leenewbill.

Also, a candlelight vigil is planned for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday at Friendship Square in Moscow.

Crystal Hamilton’s family has requested a private service, planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at Moscow’s Church of the Nazarene. Shorts Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.

According to Hamilton’s obituary, she grew up and graduated from high school in Kuna, Idaho, near Boise, and moved to Moscow 10 years ago.

An infant son, Lee Cloed Hamilton, and her father preceded her in death, the obituary said. She is survived by her mother, stepfather and four siblings.

Jason Hamilton took his own life at the end of the weekend attack.