FLORA, Ill. — From across the state, several hundred mourners gathered Monday inside a cavernous gymnasium in rural southeastern Illinois to remember the son of Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey, two of his grandchildren, and his daughter-in-law, all of whom were killed in a helicopter crash last month .

In what could have been a somber ceremony marked by sudden tragedy, the funeral for the four instead became a celebration of the victims, Zachary Bailey, his wife, Kelsey, and two of their children, 12-year-old Vada Rose and 7-year-old Samuel — lives that those at the event said were defined by grace and optimism guided by their devout Christian faith.

Speaking at the ceremony, Collin Moseley, a close friend of Darren Bailey, questioned whether “good morning” was an app

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