Lynn Highland could often be found wherever there were musicians playing, in the middle of the dance floor enjoying life with her friends.

A mainstay of Jim Thorpe’s music scene, Highland danced unapologetically and shared her love of life with friends and strangers.

“She was the most magical, high-energy person in town. If there was something going on in town, she would usually be there, and she’d usually be the belle of the ball,” said her friend and fellow Jim Thorpe resident Phil Mangum.

Highland’s death in a fire over the weekend has been a horrible shock to her friends in Jim Thorpe. To celebrate a woman they said brought light and life to the community, several dozen gathered at Stone Row Pub & Eatery Wednesday night. Proceeds from the event benefited her husband, Thomas, who was injured while attempting to rescue his wife from the fire.

Thomas Highland is in critical condition at Lehigh Valley Hospital Burn Center.

Lynn Highland was a passionate supporter of the arts, and also enjoyed performing herself.

Lynn was a loyal supporter of the Mauch Chunk Opera House. She performed on its stage with the 40 Story Radio Tower, a live performance that combines radio drama and music.

She supported all kinds of bands who came through the venue, but some of her favorite live performers were the Celtic rock band Enter the Haggis. She was an avid U2 fan, and the Opera House shared a photo of her dancing on stage with a tribute act to the famous Irish band.

“She was sunlight, truly, she was such an original character,” said Vince DiGiosio, co-owner of the Mauch Chunk Opera House.

Highland’s creativity also extended to the visual arts. She drew and painted in her spare time. Her friend Sharon Choley came to Wednesday’s event wearing a blouse that Highland had customized using patches from an old U2 concert T-shirt. Highland made her several such garments and Choley said she will treasure them forever.

“There wasn’t a show we went to that we didn’t have a blast at,” Choley said.

While many in Jim Thorpe knew Highland socially, they may not have known about her dedication to her profession, providing care for nursing home patients. A trained social worker, she spent a career spanning decades working at facilities around Carbon and surrounding counties.

Naomi Betancourt got to see her in and out of work, as a friend and a coworker at Weatherwood Nursing Home. Betancourt said Highland’s personality endeared her to the clients she served in the same way it did to her neighbors. While she worked hard and gave generously for her clients, she also managed to have fun while doing it. One of Betancourt’s favorite memories was when she dressed up as Clyde to Highland’s Bonnie for Halloween at the facility.

“People would say, what are you laughing about? You’re in a nursing home. But working with Lynn was always laughter. She managed to bring joy and happiness,” Betancourt said.

Her co-workers from Berwick Retirement Village traveled to attend Wednesday’s fundraiser as well. They said Highland had the same positive impact on her clients there that she did on her friends in Jim Thorpe.

Stone Row co-owner Charlie Sproule said there was no question they wanted to help the family of a woman who was so loved by her Jim Thorpe neighbors. He recalled the generosity of the community when their business suffered a fire four years ago.

Initially, the restaurant planned to donate 100% of the first $1,000 raised. However in the middle of the event, they decided to pledge up to $2,000.

“It’s a way for us to pay it forward,” Sproule said. “It’s a tight-knit community.”

They were just one of many businesses in Jim Thorpe who have pledged to donate a portion of their sales to help the Highland family.

A GoFundMe available at https://bit.ly/2TBQkS1 has amassed over $24,485 in donations since it was created on Sunday.