PORTLAND, Ore. -- Students and staff at Saint Mary's Academy are keeping their Rose Festival Princess in their prayers after the high school senior's father died suddenly on Tuesday.

Taylor Smith lost her mother to cancer four years ago and now two days ago, her father died suddenly -- possibly from a heart attack -- while swimming at the Sunset Athletic Club in Northwest Portland.

Smith is representing Saint Mary's Academy on the Rose Festival Court.

Smith is an only child and Saint Mary's school leaders said she is a very well-liked student, so the news hit everyone at the high school especially hard.

But they are doing everything possible to offer support.

"In the chapel, we've set up a place where students can write cards and leave flowers and those kinds of rituals. And our counselors have been available to students on an ongoing basis," assistant principal Alena Kelly said.

School officials said Smith is out of school right now to deal with her father's death.

She will be graduating the first week of June.

Tragedy Befalls Rose Festival Princess