Owosso, MI (LifeNews.com) -- Hundreds of pro-life advocates joined with friends and family of James Pouillon to mourn the Friday shooting that saw a local man take his life. Pouillon was protesting abortion outside a local high school when Harlan Drake allegedly opened fire -- angry because Pouillon dared oppose abortion at the local high school.

At the Owosso High School football stadium today, memorial service attendees cried and sang songs and remembered Pouillon, who was determined to spend as much time as possible holding his pro-life signs on the street.

"Jim shouted to the world what he was living for," the Rev. David Knox during the service, according to the Lansing State Journal. "Well done Jim, well done."

Pouillon's daughter, Mary Jo Pouillon, said she was surprised how many people turned up to pay her father respects.

"I want him to be remembered as a man who loved Jesus and who was forgiven. It's not about my dad it's about the cause and it's about Christ," Pouillon said.

His daughter and those attending had kind words and forgiveness for Drake, who reportedly killed business owner Mike Fuoss before setting his sights on Pouillon.

Family Research Council president Ken Conner released a statement to coincide with the memorial service saying he is "deeply saddened by the murder of Jim Pouillon."

"Pouillon was shot to death as he peaceably shared the pro-life message that young mothers and their unborn children should be spared the tragedy of abortion," he said. "We call on abortion advocates to join us in condemning the murder of this pro-life Christian man."

"We honor Mr. Pouillon and millions of his fellow Americans who have labored in the pro-life movement in various ways including sharing the pro-life message outside abortion facilities, volunteering at pregnancy care centers, or working to elect candidates who respect human life from conception to natural death," he said.

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