For Shirley and Joe Racette, the theft of an 1986 ISU Trooper last weekend was the latest chapter in a sad tragedy.

The Racettes are the grandparents of Jayson Jelinek, 18, one of the two teens killed in a one-car crash in March in Langley.

“I don’t know who took his car, but it just seems very sad to me that someone would take from a deceased person,” said Shirley Racette. “We were a little angry at that person, but most of all we were sad that our wonderful island community has to deal with this kind of thing.”

The Racettes are missionaries. They live in a fifth wheel trailer parked in the parking lot at the Assembly of God Church on Maxwelton Road.

“We were trying to sell his car when it was stolen from the church parking lot,” she said.

They hoped whoever had it would return it.

“We do missionary work all over the U.S. helping others to build churches, working at Christian camps and building homes for unwanted children,” she said.

They are members of a mission group called Servants on Wheels Ever Ready.

The Racettes, like much of the South Whidbey community, were saddened by the tragic death of their grandson. The crash also killed Kelly Frantz, 17, who was a passenger in Jelinek’s 1985 Honda Accord when the car left the roadway and struck a tree on Third Street in Langley.

But late last week the Racettes got some good news.

On Thursday, Everett police found the car. The Racettes are relieved to have the car back.

“Everything in the car was intact. I guess someone needed a ride to the other side. It is wonderful how the people here on the island care,” she said.