The family was staying at the HTR TX Hill Country Campground near the Guadalupe River when catastrophic flooding struck in the early morning hours of July 4th. In just 45 minutes, the river rose 26 feet, giving the family no time to evacuate. Their cabin was swept off its foundation and carried away by the violent surge of water.
The Jeffrey family embodied the values of love, service, and community that defined their lives. Emlyn and Penny were described by all who knew them as "pillars of their community" who "loved their girls fiercely and were the most loyal friends."
The Smith and Carpenter families had gathered at Casa Bonita, a gated community in Hunt, Texas, for what was meant to be a joyful Fourth of July weekend together.
Those who knew the Wilson family described them as inseparable - "stuck together like glue." Family friend Clint Wilson captured their bond perfectly: "If you saw one of them, the other two were really near. They never went anywhere apart. They always traveled together. They were very tight and full of love."
Martha was known for her kindness, warmth, creativity, sense of humor and most of all her passion for fun.
The Hardin family's story is deeply intertwined with Camp Mystic, the historic all-girls Christian summer camp that has been a cherished institution in the Texas Hill Country for nearly a century.
It is with profound sadness that we announce the tragic loss of four beloved members of the Harber family who died together in the devastating floods that swept through the Texas Hill Country in the early morning hours of July 4, 2025.
She had returned to UTPB pursuing her Masters in the Clinical Psychology Program. Jayda worked as a juvenile probation officer for Ector County, completing her first year in June.
She loved an adventure and was beyond excited to attend her first summer at Camp Mystic and achieve her dream of becoming a True Tonk.
Katherine was thrilled to have been accepted to The University of Texas at Austin for the fall. She was to be a Special Education major and ultimately planned to become a special education teacher.
