FLOYD COUNTY, Ind. (WDRB) — Friends and family are remembering 17-year-old Noah Maddox, a Floyd Central High School student whose life was tragically cut short in a drowning accident on Friday.
To those who knew him, Noah was a bright light — selfless, kind, and full of love.
"It's been hard, yeah," said Keylee Kruer, Noah’s friend, reflecting on their time together. "He just wanted to do everything for other people. That's just who he was. He was such a loving person."
WDRB met Keylee at a local park that held special meaning for the couple — a place where they spent countless hours together.
"Me and Noah used to come here just to play tennis because we liked to be outside," she said. "There was one time he took me on a picnic, right back there actually. He was so excited for it. He stopped at Jimmy John's to get sandwiches, we went to the grocery store... and we just sat there for hours. We took Polaroid pictures of it."
Now, those snapshots are cherished memories — pieces of a life that touched so many.
"He just made everyone's day better, no matter who it was," said Jude Vetter, a close friend of Noah's. "It didn't matter if you knew him or not. If you saw him on the street, he'd wave at you. He'd always talk to you if you were feeling down."
Since Noah's passing, classmates at Floyd Central have come together to honor him. They've built and painted a cross, writing their favorite memories of Noah on it. It will soon stand at the lake where he lost his life.
"You didn’t have to know him for more than five minutes to feel the light and the love he radiated," Keylee said. "You would walk away with a smile on your face. Just talking about him makes me so happy because that’s who he was."
Bryce Gerlach, 18, was killed in a triple shooting at the 2024 Harvest Homecoming. His football portrait was put on the fence at the Corydon Central High School stadium. (Portrait courtesy Gerlach family) Oct. 14, 2204
Noah’s death comes just six months after the loss of another student, Bryce Gerlach, a mentor to Noah and a fellow football player. Bryce died during the Harvest Homecoming festival — another tragedy that shook the Floyd Central community.
"The toll that the loss of Bryce took on Noah was something so unimaginable," Keylee said. "Friday night, when Noah passed, there was a double rainbow. I think that was Noah’s way of telling everybody he was okay. I know he’s with God, and I know he’s with Bryce. They're wrapping him so tight in their arms right now."
As the community mourns, they also hold close the love, light, and laughter that Noah brought into their lives — and the hope that he and Bryce are now at peace, together again.
"It’s going to be a long road," Keylee said. "But everybody who met Noah knew that he was just the best person you could’ve met."
Keylee's family is raising money for the Maddox family. To donate, click here.
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