A man killed in a crash that closed I-4 for hours Saturday morning is being remembered by family and friends.

Friends of 32-year-old Demerrio Tobler fought tears as they gathered at the church he loved on Sunday morning.

Tobler was ordained an elder last summer at Holy Temple Cathedral Pentecostal Church, and was expected to be at Sunday's services. Instead, a chair draped in black sat in the corner of the church next to the drums.

"That's the section he would be in beating the drums and leading us in praise and worship, said Bishop Zema Florence, who has known Tobler since elementary school.  "So, he's missing and to be quite honest, a part of us with the shock and allowing everything to sink in, we're expecting to see him walk through the doors because that's what I said. 'I will see you on Sunday.'"

"It was pretty bad knowing that he was supposed to come home and he couldn't or he didn't you know," said friend and roommate Kianna Selkridge as she wiped away tears. "Just waiting for the door to open and knowing that he would never walk through the doors again. It's pretty hard."

Photos courtesy of Kianna Selkridge
 
Tobler loved his friends, his church, and he had a huge passion for roller coasters. That is why his friends say he was in Orlando on Friday.

Now, they are left to mourn a life taken too soon. Yet they rejoice, because they are firm in their belief that Tobler is in heaven.

"One thing about Demarrio that remained constant the whole time I knew him was that he loved the Lord," said friend Rinaldi White. "And right now, I just know that he's in a better place. I know that he's rejoicing with the angels right now and he's happy. But he loved the Lord. There's no doubt about that."

Tobler's presence is still felt in the church he loved. Even though he was just 32, he leaves a legacy that won't be forgotten by the members here.

"He was such and is such an intricate part of this ministry," said Bishop Florence. "And even though his physical body is gone, his ministry, his life, his legacy still yet remains."

Tobler was a graduate of USF and had a job at a hotel. In his spare time he loved to cook.

A GoFund Me account has been set up in Tobler's name. It will help his church with funeral costs.

The funeral has been set for January 28. Arrangements are still being made for a location large enough to hold all of the guests.

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