Missouri preschool teacher Susan E. Stephens was "very adventurous" and loved to go on Christian missions to places like Kenya and had planned a relief trip to Haiti.

But that adventurous spirit was not what led to her fatal fall New Year’s Day from a ledge above a Maui waterfall pool, a friend and colleague said.

"She has a healthy perspective on things and on life," said Melissa Tarantino, director of the Chesterfield Presbyterian Church Preschool, where Stephens, 46, worked. "It was really just an accident. Lots of people were doing what she was doing. She just slipped and fell. Her whole family was going to do it.

"It’s not like she goes out and does crazy things," Tarantino said. "She enjoys the outdoors, and she was just having a great day."

An autopsy report Monday ruled Stephens’ death accidental due to severe head trauma, said acting Maui police Lt. William Gannon of the Criminal Investigation Division.

Stephens’ husband, Robert, and daughters witnessed the fall, police said.

"It was very unfortunate for the family to be present and experience something that tragic," said Gannon, who recalls another fatal accident in the area.

Maui Police Department spokesman Lt. Wayne Ibarra stated that witnesses said Stephens was about to jump into the pool but slipped, fell and landed on rocks 25 to 30 feet below. She died shortly after the 1:10 p.m. fall at the second of four waterfalls on the Bamboo Forest Trail, police said. A fire helicopter brought first responders to the scene. Stephens was brought to a landing zone by helicopter where medical personnel were standing by, but she died before being transported.

Stephens, husband Bob and their daughters — Rachel, 21, Kristen, 18, and Grace, 13 — were on Maui to celebrate Bob’s 50th birthday.

"They really enjoyed being together as a family," Tarantino said.

Tarantino said Stephens "overflowed with love and kindness," was a gifted teacher who made kids feel loved, had a "very sweet and gentle spirit" and was active with the church’s youth ministry and women’s Bible study activity.

"It’s been very hard," Tarantino said, her voice breaking with emotion. "I know that she’s in a better place and everything. She was very dear and a blessing to me in many ways. It’ll be hard not doing lunch with her, seeing her so often at the preschool.

"That’ll be definitely a big hole for us at the preschool and the church," she said.