WICHITA, KANSAS: Linda Gregory, a prominent female photographer for a Kansas high school's football team, died after slamming her skull on concrete when football players collided with her during a game.
The tragedy took place on Monday when two players stepped out of bounds and struck Linda Gregory, who was photographing the Wichita Northwest High School football team during the junior varsity game.
How did Linda Gregory die?
The players were involved in a block that extended to the sideline, where they struck Linda, with whom Northwest Grizzly football players had formed a deep connection, both on and off the field.
She was carried to the hospital after collapsing and hitting her head on the track's concrete apron.
Linda Gregory's husband, Mel Gregory, said on Facebook that she was unconscious and had been kept alive by a machine until her loved ones came to the hospital.
Later, Mel announced the decision to remove Linda's life support and the plan to transport her to Kansas City for an organ donation.
"Linda is still on life support but we have talked to the organ transplant people and she is being monitored for end of brain function. There is little hope left for her but she might live on in the bodies of others," Mel stated.
He added, "Linda has been my soul mate, my bestest in everything and she will go as she would like to have gone."
Further explaining Linda's wishes, he wrote, "The plans are for the organ harvesters to transport her to KC under machines to keep the organs fresh. She wanted a cremation as soon as the organs were donated. Probably will have a memorial later. Linda did not want anything fancy."
When did she get involved with the Wichita Northwest athletic department?
Linda, along with her husband, became active with the Wichita Northwest athletic department after her friend Joanna Chadwick's husband was appointed as the boys' basketball coach in 2014.
Mel and Linda made the decision to become a part of the Chadwick family's Grizzly community by capturing pictures at athletic events.
"What is so amazing about Linda is that as much as she loved my family and as much as we loved her, it was that same way with so many other people," Chadwick told The Wichita Eagle.
He explained, "She was that person for so many other people and she was always more than happy to give you advice on a topic or help you out of a jam."
Tributes pour in for Linda Gregory
The outpour of tributes for the cherished photographer demonstrates the legacy she has left behind.
The football team will memorialize Linda by donning stickers bearing her initials, "LG," on their helmets for the remaining season, according to Northwest football coach Steve Martin.
"Her passion for kids was amazing, but it went deeper than taking pictures for Linda and Mel. They were a part of our football team and always will be," said Martin.
Breece Hall, a former running back for the Northwest football team who is now a member of the New York Jets, also took to Facebook after learning she was in the hospital.
He exclaimed, "We need Prayers!!! These are the most genuine, polite, kind, giving, whole hearted people. Prayers out to you and your wonderful wife Mel Gregory."
Linda Gregory's husband calls her 'soul' of their marriage
Linda and Mel got married |a little more than 23 years ago," and in one post, Linda's grieving husband said that if a marriage could be described as ideal, "I think ours was close to perfection." He also called his time with her the "absolute best of my life."
Mel stated that he had been a traveler prior to his marriage, although "Linda, not so much." She had gone to Haiti to photograph for the author of an orphanage book, but she was mostly a tourist in the United States.
"She was the soul of our marriage and I will have to learn many things to continue my journey and she will be in my mind to guide me as I try to run my home without her," wrote Mel.
