🌤️ On June 30, 2024, what began as a journey filled with excitement and togetherness ended in unimaginable heartbreak. The Van Epps family — James and Laura, their beloved sons JR and Harrison, and Laura’s father, Roger — lost their lives when their plane tragically crashed, leaving a community stunned and grieving.

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Those who knew them say the Van Epps family did everything as a team. Whether it was family trips, school events, or simple evenings at home, their bond was unmistakable. James was known for his steady strength and dedication. Laura radiated warmth wherever she went. JR and Harrison carried the bright energy only young boys can bring — full of curiosity, laughter, and endless possibility. And Roger, a proud grandfather and father, cherished every moment spent surrounded by his family.

💔 In a single instant, five lives filled with love, plans, and shared dreams were gone. The loss rippled far beyond relatives — neighbors, friends, classmates, and colleagues all felt the weight of their absence. Schools held moments of silence. Churches filled with prayer. Social media became a tapestry of memories, photos, and tributes honoring a family that meant so much to so many.

🌅 The tragedy is a stark reminder of how fragile life truly is. A routine flight. A normal day. And then, everything changes. No warning can prepare a community for such loss, and no words can fully capture the void left behind.

🕯️ Yet amid the grief, one truth stands firm: the Van Epps family will not be remembered for the way their lives ended, but for the love that defined them. Their laughter, their devotion to one another, and the kindness they extended to others continue to echo in the hearts of those who knew them.

❤️ Their story calls us to hold our loved ones a little closer, to say the words we sometimes postpone, and to treasure the ordinary moments that make up a life. Because in the end, it is those moments — shared around dinner tables, on road trips, in quiet conversations — that become the legacy we leave behind.