Justin T. Paton killed by small arms fire

Army Pfc. Justin Paton, 24, the son of Donald and Shelley Paton of Alanson, was killed Saturday in Iraq, a close friend of the family said Monday.

Jerry Carpentier of Alanson, a friend of the Patons and a custodian at Petoskey Middle School, said he had spent much of the weekend with the Patons and was able to confirm that Justin had been killed in or near Baghdad.

Justin’s death was also confirmed by Justin’s uncle, Tom Paton, who was visiting with the family over the weekend. He said members of Justin’s immediate family were to meet with military officials later Monday to learn the details of Justin’s death.

Carpentier said he had been friends with the Patons for years, and had known Justin almost from birth. He said Justin had graduated from Inland Lakes High School in 2000.

Frank Holes, a former principal at Inland Lakes High School, said he remembered Justin as a quiet but friendly student.

“He was kind of a quiet kid in school,” Holes said. “He was a good student, he was always friendly, seemed to have lots of friends but he wasn’t the kind of kid that did anything outlandish or drew attention to himself.”

He added that Justin was interested in technology, and that he and a group of friends would often fix equipment at the school.

“He was just a really, really nice kid. Just one of these kids that doesn’t draw attention, that doesn’t say, ‘Look at me,’ but he was steady and he was a good kid. He was a good representation of his school and his community and his parents, one of those silent leaders that was always doing things the right way and unfortunately doesn’t get a lot of recognition,” Holes said.

Carpentier, who said he was like an uncle to Justin, said Justin was “very easy-going, a good guy.”

He said Justin liked to kayak and to be outside.

“My wife and I spent time with them and shared our common interests in hunting and fishing and camping. Justin liked to camp when he was young and even when he grew older he would always come to the campsite to visit us.”

Carpentier said Justin loved rock gardening as a hobby, an interest that grew into a job with Dross Landscaping of Alanson.

Justin was a member of Walloon Lake Community Church.

He had a sister, Stormy Dickenson, and a brother, Adam Parkey, both of Alanson, and many nieces and nephews.

From the Herald Times