The Harber Family: Blair, Brooke, Mike, and Charlene Harber: July 4, 2025

Editor’s Note: In the absence of formal obituaries for the Harber family members, The Kerr County Lead has compiled this obituary based on extensive research from multiple news sources, family statements, and community tributes to honor their memory and ensure their stories are preserved.

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.

Blair Harber, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, were vibrant young sisters from Dallas who were found holding hands and their rosaries, a powerful symbol of their unbreakable bond and unwavering faith. They died alongside their beloved grandparents, Mike Harber, 76, and Charlene Harber, 74, while staying at the family’s vacation home in the Casa Bonita community in Hunt, Texas.

Blair Harber: A Bright Light with a Kind Heart

Blair was preparing to enter eighth grade at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas, where she was known for having “the kindest heart and loved to serve others.” An outstanding student enrolled in advanced classes, Blair served as a Student Ambassador, proudly guiding prospective families through the school with warmth and enthusiasm.

Blair’s talents were as diverse as they were impressive. She participated in yearbook, speech and drama, volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, and cheerleading. She had been eagerly looking forward to auditioning for the lead role in the eighth grade production of “Bye Bye Birdie” this fall. Even at 13, Blair excelled in the kitchen and was already experimenting with full-course meals. For her father’s last birthday, she had baked a double-layer cake with homemade frosting.

Blair’s love for children was evident in everything she did. Just weeks before her death, she had earned a certificate in “Early Years Supervision for Child Development” with no prompting from any adult, demonstrating her desire to be a responsible, dedicated babysitter. Her father RJ said, “She was becoming the type of young woman parents dream about. My wife and I were so proud.”

Brooke Harber: Joy and Energy Personified

Brooke was set to begin sixth grade at St. Rita Catholic School, where she was described as “an excellent student who brought joy and energy wherever she went.” Known for her infectious spirit and determination, Brooke had a particular gift for improv that brought smiles and laughter to those around her. Her family lovingly said she “never met a stranger and loved everyone she met.”

Brooke’s domain was sports, where she fearlessly competed. As a fifth-grader, she had joined seventh and eighth grade players on the lacrosse field without hesitation. She was an accomplished athlete who played soccer, basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse with equal passion and skill.

Like her sister, Brooke was a person of deep faith who loved speech and drama. Her final text message, sent at 3:30 a.m. as the floodwaters began to rise, simply read “I love you” – words that perfectly captured the love she had for her family.

Mike and Charlene Harber: Devoted Grandparents

Mike and Charlene Harber lived in the unincorporated community of Hunt in Kerr County, where they had welcomed their son RJ’s family for a Fourth of July weekend visit. The couple had graciously allowed Blair and Brooke to stay in a neighbor’s house with them since their own home was a one-bedroom.

Mike and Charlene were devoted grandparents who treasured their time with Blair and Brooke. They had planned what should have been a joyful holiday weekend filled with family memories at their beloved retreat in the Texas Hill Country.

A Family’s Faith and Final Moments

The Harber family’s deep Catholic faith sustained them even in their final moments. Blair and Brooke had gone to the loft of their cabin carrying their rosaries – the same beads they held tightly as they faced the rushing waters together. Just two weeks before her death, Blair had engaged in a meaningful conversation about God and heaven with her aunt Jennifer, demonstrating the spiritual maturity that defined both sisters.

When the storm struck at 3:30 a.m., parents RJ and Annie Harber, who were staying in a separate cabin, immediately tried to reach their daughters and RJ’s parents. Despite breaking windows and attempting to borrow a kayak from neighbors – likely saving those neighbors’ lives in the process – the rushing waters made rescue impossible.

The sisters and their grandparents were swept away together, and their bodies were discovered 15 miles downriver. When found, Blair and Brooke’s hands were locked together, holding their rosaries, a testament to their bond and their trust in God even in their final moments.

A Community in Mourning

The Harber family has been a cherished part of the St. Rita Catholic Community for many years, where Annie Harber serves as a longtime faculty member. The school described this tragedy as having “touched every corner of our hearts.”

The devastating loss extends beyond Dallas to the greater Casa Bonita community in Hunt, where only four to six houses remained standing out of the original twenty homes after the floodwaters receded.

Survivors and Legacy

Blair and Brooke are survived by their heartbroken parents, RJ and Annie Harber, and their loving aunt Jennifer Harber, who has worked tirelessly to bring her family home and honor their memory. The family’s faith community at St. Rita Catholic School and the broader Dallas community have rallied around them during this unimaginable time.

Mike and Charlene are survived by their son RJ, daughter-in-law Annie, and Charlene’s siblings Lisa and Jimmy, who continue to navigate this devastating loss.

Memorial Services

Joint funeral services for all four family members were held at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas, where the community gathered to celebrate lives well-lived and faith well-kept. The family requested that memorial donations be directed toward charities designated in honor of Blair, Brooke, Charlene, and Mike, or for the establishment of a foundation or scholarships in their memory.

In Their Memory

The Harber family’s story is one of faith, love, and unbreakable bonds that not even tragedy could sever. Blair’s kindness, Brooke’s joy, and Mike and Charlene’s devotion to family will live on in the hearts of all who knew them. Their final moments together – holding hands and holding fast to their faith – serve as a powerful reminder that love endures beyond this life.

“Even in their last moments, they held tightly to each other, a powerful symbol of their lasting bond and their trust in God,” their church family shared. “In this time of deep sorrow, we stay grounded in our faith and united in love.”

The Harber family’s memory will forever be cherished by their community of faith, their school family at St. Rita, and all whose lives they touched with their love, kindness, and unwavering spirit.