MASON, Ohio — A third-grade student at Mason Elementary School died unexpectedly Saturday morning, Mason City Schools announced through a Facebook post on Saturday.
The district urged supporters and students to wear blue, JJ Day's favorite color, to school on Monday in honor of him. The district said JJ also loved soccer and adored his older sisters.
"He touched so many people," said Jon Day, JJ's father. "So many people. We're truly going to miss him. He was the smartest person I knew and one of my best friends. There's a lot of people who loved him."
Jon said JJ went to sleep last night and never woke up in the morning. The family isn't certain what caused the boy's death.
A GoFundMe has been set up to raise money for the family and Jon said the community support they have received has been strong.
"Everybody that came out in support, there were people here all day long. Thank you to them," said Jon. "The Mason community has been phenomenal."
The school district will have additional counselors and Cincinnati Childrens clinical therapists at Mason Elementary, Mason Intermediate and Mason Middle School on Monday, the Facebook post said.
