We're learning much more about the loss of a beloved teacher and coach.

Students and colleagues are still devastated after 58-year-old Peter Karoly was found unresponsive inside his house Thursday.

On Friday, classes were canceled and students gathered to build a makeshift memorial in his honor.

TV5 spoke to his daughter, who tells us what her dad meant to his family and the community.

"He was my best friend," said Katey Karoly, reflecting on her father's life that ended suddenly overnight at his home in Essexville. "It's really hard."

Katey showed up at Bay City Central High School clutching a picture she made for her dad last Father's Day. Karoly worked for the Bay City school district for more than 20 years. He taught English and spent eight years coaching soccer.

"We really have no idea how we're going to live without him," said Katey. She told TV5 her dad spent his last day of life being very happy. "[He] and my mom were just getting to the point where they we're realizing how blessed they were," said Katey. She is asking for the community's prayers, especially for her mom, who Katey said is taking the tragedy very hard. "I don't know how you can . . . even be there for somebody that's just lost the love of their life," Katey said of her mother.

While a daughter continues to mourn the loss of her father, members of this community tell TV5 they're still trying to come to grips with the sudden death of a great teacher and friend."

"He was a very wonderful teacher," said Bay City Schools superintendent Doug Newcombe. "He was a terrific human being. Always had a smile, always had a laugh, [and] always had a kind word to say."

"My oldest and youngest sons had Pete Karoly as an English teacher," said Bay City resident Joanne Goodman. "He was the first teacher that got them to understand that they could do well and enjoy English class."

"The loss that Central feels is just magnified ten-fold by the whole community," said another Bay City resident, Michael Newsham.

Bay City Central High School student Scott Myers' locker is right next to Karoly's classroom and he said the rest of this school year will be a struggle. "Every day when I walk by that classroom and there's another teacher in it, it's going to be weird, you know, I'm gonna wanna say Mr. Karoly and he's not going to be there," said Myers.

There will be a moment of silence for Karoly on Friday night at 7 p.m.  just before kickoff between Bay City Central and Saginaw Heritage High School.

A memorial service is planned for tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the courtyard at Bay City Central High School.

The slideshow above shows the memorial students made in honor of Karoly.

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