SEVIERVILLE (WATE) – Dozens of people paid their respects to a helicopter pilot killed when his sightseeing chopper crashed Monday.

Smoky Mountain Hlelicopter Pilot Jason Dahl, 38, was killed, along with his four passengers, when the helicopter crashed Monday afternoon on a ridge line near Rainbow Road in Pigeon Forge. Kodak resident Johna Morvant, 49, her two children Parker Rasmussen, 18, and Peyton Rasmussen, 22, as well as Peyton Rasmussen’s boyfriend, Michael Mastalez, 21, were also killed.

Dahl’s friends and family called him ‘JD,’ and they say he had a passion for flying and making the most out of life. “Value every moment and treat every moment like it might be your last because you might not have another one to redo it,” said his girlfriend Tessa Ashford.

Ashford spoke in front of dozens of people Friday night at Pathways Church wanting people to know exactly who was. She said even though the tragic event has been very emotional, her boyfriend died doing what he loved.

“He loved the sky, and he loved to be around people, and he to be around people. It’s amazing the community support and people’s comments about what an experience they had with him flying and that it made a difference,” said Ashford.

It was an emotional service. Pictures showed the happy faces of Dahl and his friends and family, times they are now trying to remember as they grieve and try to heal.

“I just don’t feel like I can even express gratitude enough for it. It’s amazing and I hope the community is supporting the other families just as much and I love them and hold them in my heart even though I’ve never met them. I will always keep them in my heart too,” said Ashford. She said she feels for the families of the passengers that lost their lives and asks for prayers for the families affected.

Dahl was originally from Oregon. His family there will be holding another memorial service for him at a later date.

Loved ones cope with heartbreaking loss

Familiy members said they are in shock after learning Peyton and Parker Rasmussen and their mother, Johna Morvant died in the crash.

“You look at that and say guys that’s a sad story and then you walk away and take care of your own business and you don’t think anything more about it, and this morning we find out that’s my family,” said Butch Rasmussen, Peyton and Parker Rasmussen’s grandfather.

Butch Rasmussen said he remembers the siblings distinct personalities. He said Peyton Rasmussen always had friends surrounding her, but her brother was the opposite, always quiet.

Johna Morvant’s neighbor and family friend, Jackson Gibbs, said the families bonded quickly after Morvant moved to Kodak about a year ago. “Miss Johna absolutely loved her children and loved my children. My family has just gravitated towards them since they’ve been here and just the best neighbors,” he said.

Gibbs said when he heard news of the helicopter crash, he never imagined it would hit so close to home. He said the neighborhood was paralyzed when the names of the victims were released.

“I think that we’re all struck by tragedy and it will take a lot of support and prayers to get through this,” said Gibbs.Related: