His Hugs Will Be Missed

Anthony Fowler was a great kid, but what his friends will miss most are his hugs, they said.

A funeral was held for Anthony at in Murrieta today.

The 11-year-old boy died on Feb. 16 after being in a coma for 11 days. He was hurt when a tunnel he and a friend were building caved in on him at Long Canyon Creek Park on N. General Kearny Road.

To read about what happened,.

He was buried for several minutes as his friend tried to dig him out while calling for help.

Bystanders and local emergency workers managed to free him, but only after he was buried for several minutes.

His brain activity slipped away during the next 11 days, and his parents made the difficult decision to donate his organs.

To read about the decision, .

"We believe that's why he was brought back," his father, Freddie Fowler, said at his son's funeral today. "He's my hero."

He was an affectionate boy who loved to hug his friends, family and even his school's principal.

"The thing I remember best about him was his hugs," said Shelley Maxwell, the principal of . "He'd always run up and give you a great, big hug. You could never have a bad day when Anthony was around. Even though he was a big, cool fifth-grader, he wasn't afraid to hug his principal."

His mother, Gretchen Fowler, looked forward to getting one of those every morning, she said.

"He was always taking the time to be in the moment and give a hug and a kiss," she said.

Piper in the rain

A bagpiper played "Amazing Grace" as pallbearers took Anthony's coffin to the hearse.

As the rain poured down and the family huddled under umbrellas to say their last goodbye, the church bells rang, while a bugler softly played "Taps."

Outside, a woman embraced sheriff's Deputy Robert Ochoa and thanked him for his work. He was one of the first emergency workers to help Anthony.

"I just want to thank you for everything you did," she said with tears flowing down her face.

The family returned to the church to visit with family.

"We we're very blessed to have such a loving community," his father said.

Many shared their memories of Anthony.

"I'll never forget his goofy, awesome smile," he father said.

"I remember his warm hugs in the morning. I'm definitely going to miss those," said his sister, Alyssa Clancy.

He was also a playful boy, said his neighbor, Curt Lewis. "He loved to kick the ball around the yard, play with dogs, he was just a great all-around boy," he said.