MONROVIA, Ind. (WTHR) - Chris Williams will spend Fathers Day with his two daughters, Emma, 17 and Claire, 14.
He'll also be keeping his son Tyler in his thoughts and heart.
"You try to move on, but you never forget," Chris said. "Not a day goes by that I don't think of Tyler and Sunday won't be any different."
Except this Fathers day, the Monrovia playground Chris helped build, will likely be full of children.
"This is something he would have loved, what 6 year old wouldn't?" Chris said walking around the brand new, brightly-covered playground. "Families we don't even know are going to benefit from this and it makes me pretty happy."
Chris described Tyler as "a typical all-American 6-year-old boy...He was excited about school, never met a stranger, was a big hugger."
Emma added, "He loved to play superheroes," with Claire chiming in, "he was always like fake hitting someone with a sword. He (had) an imagination."
But on September 6th of 2013, the day Tyler's kindergarten picture was taken, life changed dramatically.
"It was almost a blink of the eye," Chris said. "He went home sick from school and got progressively sicker over the weekend."
He said the doctor initially thought "routine stomach flu," but it got worse. Tyler was hospitalized and had surgery. Chris said a blood infection had spread to Tyler's brain.
"Within a week, he went from the fun-loving, energetic boy we knew to gone," Chris said.
He and his family were left pictures, memories and a giant hole in their hearts. They also had an aching desire to honor the son and brother who would be their "forever super hero."
"We wanted to keep Tyler's memory alive. It helps to do that," Chris said.
After someone suggested building a playground at the Monrovia ball fields, they latched on. It was a place where Tyler and his sisters had practice and games. A playground would provide something for kids who didn't have a game or waiting for siblings to finish.
It took 5 years to raise the necessary $40,000 thru donations and golf outings, but just one nearly 11-hour day in mid-May to assemble the playground.
Roughly 20 people pitched in.
"A lot of people donated time, equipment and mostly sweat equity," Chris said. "It was awesome to see it come together."
He said it drives by it several times a week. "I love to see kids playing (on the equipment.) It makes me happy. Obviously that's the reason we did it."
He also thinks about the family members, friends and neighbors who made the playground possible.
"This is a really small community and they really wrapped their arms around us when Tyler passed away and it's just been really awesome," Chris said.
And he said the hope is to do more in Tyler's memory, such as establishing a scholarship in his name or sponsoring kids in the community wanting to attend sports camps.
Asked if she had a message to share, Emma said, "Cherish the time with loved ones and never take anything for granted because you never know the last time you may be with the people you cherish most."
A great message for Father's Day and every day.