A LIFE TOO SHORT\Chaparral student mourned.

Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer

She never knew Joel Burchfield, yet Rachel Johnson wept Monday at the funeral for the 11-year-old with the adventurous spirit who loved baseball and basketball.

"I have a son close to his age," said Johnson, who lives in Van Nuys and learned from news accounts how Joel was swept to his death in the Arroyo Simi last Wednesday while taking a shortcut home from school.

"After I read about what happened to this little boy, I had to come," she said. "It hit too close to home."

Hundreds of mourners - family, friends and strangers - attended the service at Holy Cross Church, where Joel's Little League team wore their red jerseys in memory of their friend.

Dozens of his classmates from Chaparral Middle School sat quietly during the service, some weeping. The school chorus sang "Precious Lord Take My Hand." Joel's 8-year-old brother Ryan sat solemnly in his father's lap.

"We will learn to live with it, because we have to," Tom Burchfield, Joel's grandfather, said during the eulogy. "No one will take his place."

In the family's first public statement since they learned of their son's death last week, Dan and Laura Burchfield thanked their friends and the community for offering so much time, work, love and support.

"We never could have made it through such a trying time without you," said the Burchfields in a written statement. "You have been - and continue to be - our strength."

The family also stressed they blame no one for Joel's accident.

"What happened to Joel was an accident - not the fault of a politician who didn't vote to construct a footbridge," the Burchfields wrote. "Nor was it caused by bullies on a school bus. Joel did not take the bus for one reason: Because he'd rather walk."

Mike Hiserman, whose son played on the Little League team with Joel, said during the eulogy that Joel would not be interested in people pointing fingers at who's to blame.

"He would have wanted us to gather together and do the best we can," Hiserman said.

Police say Joel was last seen crossing a Kmart parking lot about 3:30 p.m. last Wednesday, just south of the school.

Police theorize that Joel walked through the parking lot to where Liberty Bell Road ends at the Arroyo Simi. At that point, the creek is lined with concrete so county flood control trucks and emergency vehicles can cross. That stretch of arroyo is a common shortcut for schoolchildren on their way home from Chaparral.

Classmate Michael Kinkead said he, too, has taken the shortcut home many times. After attending the memorial service Monday, Michael said he was doubtful he would cross through the waters of Arroyo Simi again.

"I don't think I will," said Michael, who shared his first-period language class with Joel. Michael said he will miss Joel's sense of humor the most. "He always made me laugh," Michael said.

Deanna Kinkead, who met Joel at Chaparral four years ago, said she remembers seeing him by the Arroyo Simi after school Wednesday.

"At first, I thought he was taking the long way home," said Deanna, 13, who also vowed to never cross through the arroyo again. "I don't care how long it takes. I'll take the long way home."

After Joel was reported missing Wednesday, dozens of volunteers gathered outside the Burchfields' home. With their ranks swelling to nearly 100, the volunteers joined 25 members of the Ventura County Sheriff's search and rescue team, who also were aided by two helicopters, a dozen deputies and members of the city's Disaster Assistance Response Team.

With the same force they used to search for Joel, many of the volunteers gathered at his memorial service days later to give their support.

"Moorpark is a really special place; this is an example of that," said Lt. Marty Rouse, head of the Moorpark Police Department, who organized the search. "There are a lot of caring people here who are doing their best to give their support."

Joan Schaub, a Moorpark resident and mother of four sons, said one of the hardest things she has had to do since Joel died was explain the boy's death to her 8-year-old son David.

"I had to tell him that little Ryan won't have Joel to look after him anymore," Schaub said. "I told him that Ryan has to remember Joel is with the angels now."

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PHOTO

Photo (1--color) Laura Burchfield is comforted by a friend at Holy Cross Church after a service for her son. (2--color) Coach Mike Hiserman recalls Joel Burchfield's enthusiasm for sports. (3--color) Rachel Nash, 8, blows a last kiss during a memorial service for her friend Joel Burchfield. (4) Teammates of Joel Burchfield carry roses as they line up to give a hug to their friend's mother during a memorial service Monday. Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News