There are moments in life that stop you completely. The kind of news that makes you set your phone down and just sit in silence.
The tragic car accident near Marble Falls, Texas, last Sunday evening was exactly that kind of moment for so many families, teachers, and neighbors across the community.
In a single horrific instant, four lives were lost. Roxanne Mowrey, 50 years old, her boyfriend Ron Dykes, 55, her granddaughter Ashlynn Mowrey, just 3 years old, and little Avery Carter, only 5, were all taken far too soon. These were not just names. These were people deeply woven into the lives of everyone around them.
Avery was a kindergartner, full of that particular kind of energy that only five-year-olds carry with them into a room. Her teacher shared the heartbreaking news on social media, asking the community to pray for her family and remembering her with the simple, honest words: “Love you Avery.”
That small sentence says everything about the kind of child she was. The kind you remember. The kind who lights up a classroom just by walking through the door.
Ashlynn was only three. Still at the age where everything is new, and the world feels like one big adventure. Three years old is pigtails, puddle jumping, and learning the names of things. It is almost impossible to put into words how deeply wrong it feels to lose a child so young.
Roxanne Mowrey, at 50, had built a life surrounded by family. She leaves behind her children, Mallory, Darrin, Shae, and Dalton, as well as generations of people who loved her.
She was a mother, a grandmother, and a constant presence in the lives of those closest to her.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking dimension of this tragedy is what it has asked of one woman in particular. Peggy Taylor Little is now grieving her daughter, Roxanne, her granddaughter, Avery, and her great-granddaughter, Ashlynn, all at once.
There is no roadmap for that kind of loss. There are no right words for it. All any of us can do is show up, and that is exactly what this community has begun to do.
Avery’s parents, Robert and Kerry Carter, along with her older brother Kaleb, are facing the unthinkable. No parent should ever have to plan a funeral for their kindergartner. No big brother should ever have to grow up without his little sister by his side.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by Tessa Lund has been set up to help the family cover funeral costs and other related expenses for Roxanne, Ashlynn, and Avery. In just hours after going live, hundreds of people began contributing and sharing the link.
The goal is $26,000, and the response from the community has already been a small but meaningful sign that people care.
The memorial service is scheduled for May 23rd, just days away.
If you can help, the link is gofund.me/d5e629deb. And if you cannot give financially, share it. Say a prayer. Check on someone who is grieving. Sometimes the smallest gestures carry the most weight.
Rest peacefully, Roxanne, Ashlynn, and Avery.
