Friends are still reeling from the loss of their friend Leigh Swanson. Swanson went missing nearly two weeks ago after going on a date with a man she met online.

And just this week, police discovered her body near the home of 30-year-old Michael Fabi, who has been named as a suspect in Swanson's murder. This case is far from over with many questions still remaining.

But in the meantime, many say they just want to remember Swanson for the person she was - their friend.

Friends of Swanson are at a loss.

"She was a great person, she had a heart of gold," said her ex-boyfriend Randy Lovell.

"She was a very loving, caring person," said friend Becki Rau.

Many of Swanson's closest friends met Friday night at The Log Cabin Bar in Freeland, not sure of what to make of the news or why the horrible thing happened to her.

"She didn't deserve it, nobody deserves it, but why did she?" asked Lovell.

Lovell said he dated Swanson for nine years and at one point a couple years back, the two planned to get married. He said it was just one of those relationships that never panned out.  He last talked with Swanson the night she went on that online date.

"I said 'well do it, you know, go, go do what you got to do,' I didn't have a problem with it, we didn't, I said just be happy," said Swanson.

He never thought it would be the last time he talked with her.

Rau also knew her well.

"Leigh could never do anything to hurt anybody, and that's the hardest thing, she was good," said Rau.

When Swanson went out to the bar, her drink of choice was tequila. On Friday night, they gave cheers to Swanson's life.

"Here's to Leigh, here's to Leigh, you will be missed," they cheered.

Swanson's friends said it was a hard drink to take after the hard news they learned about their friend this week, but they say they're confident the drink in her memory is what she'd want.

"She was a great person. I just can't explain the great person she was," said Lovell.

Copyright 2012 WNEM (Meredith Corporation).  All rights reserved.