CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Members of the Tri-Delt sorority, together with the UA community, honored Marissa Kinney last night. Kinney was remembered as a member of the UA cheerleading squad.

Nearly 300 members of the UA community joined Marissa Kinney's family last night to honor the deceased cheerleader and sorority member and to share in laughs and tears to "celebrate her life."

Kinney's friends recalled her positive attitude, her ability to never "sweat the small things" and her ever-present smile.

The memorial was organized by members of Kinney's sorority, Delta Delta Delta, and held at the sorority house.

Kinney, 20, was killed in Peoria, Ariz. on March 23 when her car's tire blew out and the car collided with two other vehicles.

"We have come together a lot; everyone has been doing different things to help," said Anne Heeren, a sophomore in Tri-Delt. "I was really surprised that she had so many friends outside of Tri-Delt. She affected so many lives and it was evident when they came together today."

At the memorial, Kinney's friends shared fond memories about cheerleading, sorority recruitment and everyday conversations they had with Kinney, consistently saying the she never failed to brighten up someone's day.

The memorial also focused on Kinney's Christian beliefs.

"It is not the material things of this world. It is not relationships. It is about hope, hope in God and in his son Jesus Christ," said Derek Begin, a former youth leader at Kinney's church in her hometown of Kingman, Ariz.

The memorial helped Kinney's friends and sorority sisters to find some closure, said Tri-Delt senior Stephanie Gray who helped organize the event.

"What I felt the house and the cheerleaders needed was a place to express how much Marissa meant to them and how much she will always mean to them, and I think that came across."