For the past 16 years, the family of Traci English has been seen traveling the east and west lanes of Highway 60 collecting trash along a 2 1/2-mile stretch.
"This keeps our sister's memory alive and more than anything it's a way to honor her," Traci's sister, Erin English Deaton, said.
Traci was killed Sept. 12, 2001 when her vehicle went off the left side of the roadway, over corrected and flipped. She was 17-years-old and just beginning her senior year at Poplar Bluff High School.
The year after her death, Traci's father, Tim English, organized adopting a portion of the highway where his daughter lost her life.
Erin believes adopting the highway helped her father since the crash site was only about three miles from their home.
"He felt in the spirit he needed to do this," she said.
While Tim is not able to join the group for this year's pickup, Erin said he has always been and continues to be one of the biggest supporters of the cause.
Renea English described her parents as "hippies," which carried over to the three sisters.
"We are recycling people, fun-loving, flower-planting, garden-having, free-spirited people," Renea said. "Adopting a highway was the perfect way to remember her."
The girls said they could not do this without the help of their parents.
After Tim arranged the highway adoption, the girl's mother, Angie Arant Swasho, steps up each time with the organization of supplies.
Each year in April and September near the anniversary of Traci's death, family members, friends and strangers volunteer their time beautifying Highway 60 while donning tie dye shirts.
Over 2,000 bags of trash have been collected since the family adopted the highway.
According to Erin, the first year the group collected trash along the highway, they gathered over 100 bags. Their highest pickup included 120 bags.
"We have had as many as 30 volunteers during a pickup and then there was a time it was just me and my sister and parents," Erin said.
The group has stayed committed to their highway and honoring Traci each year. The scheduled trash pickups take place in rain, sleet, snow or sunshine.
"I did it one year while seven months pregnant," Erin said. "It wears you out."
While never having met their aunt, the sister's children are now being introduced to the cause.
"Being brought up helping pick up trash teaches the kids not to be litter bugs," Renea said. "They have always helped and don't know any different."
With her children being brought up helping collect trash, Erin said they are now carrying over the practice to their everyday lives.
"When my kids see trash in the yard, they pick it up," she said. "If they throw something out the car, I will turn around because they are going back and picking it up."
With Highway 60 being a very traveled stretch of road, Erin said it opens your eyes when you look back and see the progress made while working as bright yellow trash bags line the median.
The family has one of the longest stretch of highways in the Adopt a Highway program.
The sisters often joke their father probably asked the Missouri Department of Transportation what was the longest amount of highway they could adopt.
"We have talked about shortening the amount, but we just can't bring ourselves to do it," Renea said. "We don't see any plans of letting go of our highway. When we can't do it anymore we hope our kids will take over."
The family's stretch of highway has even been named one of the top 10 cleanest highways in Missouri for the Adopt a Highway program.
While working to the honks and cheers of cars passing by, the group has been able to share many stories about Traci over the years with one another.
"We have heard about childhood secrets, crushes and just how uplifting, bighearted, smart and happy Traci was," Erin said. "We didn't have cell phones at that time, so we have learned a lot."
Erin recalled just how much Traci enjoyed life and had no stresses or struggles.
"Of us three girls, she was the one who always made the sunshine when it rained," she said. "She always had something positive about a situation when we thought it was the end of the world. She would just shake off problems."
Renea said her sister was a hippy just like the rest of the family and feels like she is shining on the group while working each year.
"I can feel her with us at every pickup," Renea said. "I can hear 'Me and Bobby McGee' playing in the background and Janis Joplin."
The group just completed their first pickup of 2018 in April in what Erin described as "one of the largest collections" with 107 bags of trash.
The group will be back on Highway 60 in September for their second pickup of the year.
The date has been set for Saturday, Sept. 15 and all volunteers are welcome to join. Erin said a cookout is held after to thank the volunteers.
"We can't begin to express our thanks to the people who help," Renea said. "If you can't make it the whole way, just do what you can."
While the group does a wonderful service for the community, the sisters said they pick up trash for no other reason than to honor Traci.
"We don't do it to glorify ourselves or draw attention," Erin said. "We do it for her."
Sandy Black is just one of the many citizens who has noticed the work the family has been dedicated to over the years and hopes it will inspire others.
"Thank you so much to the good people who pick up trash on the 60 bypass and make our community a more beautiful place," Black said. "What a nice way to honor the memory of a loved one by doing something that is beneficial."