Wreck survivor will know family's love, but not her parents
Wreck survivor will know family's love, but not her parents
Comments 
8
By Julie Bisbee
Published: December 7, 2007
HINTON — A miracle might have saved little Layla Gourley. The 3-week-old baby is the lone survivor of a head-on collision that killed her parents and a father of two near Hinton.
Advertisement
‘Through the grace of God'
Brian Montecino, Crystal Gourley's father, knows his granddaughter was spared for a reason.
"I've seen the vehicle, and I know she lived through the grace of God,” said Montecino, who lives in Carney. "She has a purpose to be fulfilled. We don't know what the purpose is, but we will in time.”
Members of Tyler Gourley's family have emergency guardianship of the infant, Montecino said.
"All the families have had a tragic loss. We will put our children to rest,” he said. "The main thing is that my daughter and son-in-law left a life in this world by the name of Layla. The main priority is that she is very well taken care of.”
Tyler and Crystal Gourley had known each other since eighth-grade. They began dating in high school, and Tyler transferred from Mustang High School to Hinton High School so he and Crystal could be together their senior year.
A few months after they graduated in 2006, they married, Montecino said.
"They just loved doing things together,” said Montecino, who described his daughter as fun-loving and full of life. "They were meant to be together, and now they will always be together.”
Layla will only know her parents through stories and the mementoes left behind. But she will also know "her mom and dad loved her very much,” Montecino said.
"It may have been for a short time, but there is a saying that it is better to be loved for a short time than to never be loved at all. This is a prime example.”
Layla came into the world on Nov. 14. Her petite mother struggled to deliver her before doctors performed a C-section, Montecino said.
"When she came out of it, I watched my daughter blossom into a beautiful young mother,” Montecino said. "And she said it was all worth it.”
Loss for another family
Hux also leaves two children, a 21/2-year-old daughter and a 9-month-old son. His 21-year-old wife is pregnant with a third child. The couple recently bought a house in Hinton, said Troy Hinkle, Hux's father-in-law.
"He was a strong, family husband,” he said.
Hux went out of his way for others, Hinkle said.
"He was the person everybody called when they ran out of gas or had a flat tire,” he said. "He loved his kids very much. He was always talking about wanting to grow old and rocking the grandkids. He was a good provider, he gave his kids everything.”
Prev
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
Thank God she lived! My prayers for both the families!!!