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HUACHUCA CITY - Emilia Guthrie was remembered as a happy individual, a person who gave more of herself than she received from others, a woman who was a mentor.
That is how Pat O'Hare described her friend Guthrie, whose life was snuffed out Saturday in a horrific car crash caused by a driver of a speeding truck carrying illegal immigrants.
O'Hare said her although her friend was 71, it was hard to keep up with her.
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As a sunset of orange and purple colors bounced off gray clouds Monday, there was a short candlelight vigil in the town park behind Huachuca City's administrative park in remembrance of Guthrie and the 75-year-old man she married a short six weeks ago - James Lee.
"It was a terrible day," O'Hare said about Saturday when the vehicle Guthrie and Lee were in was turned into a pile of twisted metal after being hit by a stolen white Ford pickup full of illegal immigrants.
Besides her and her husband, three illegal immigrants died and 23 people - U.S. and Mexican citizens - were injured.
The day of the accident, O'Hare was attending mass at a small mission in Whetstone when she received the news from a woman who came to the service.
"I broke out in tears," O'Hare said. "Everybody who knew her is broken hearted."
Guthrie was a volunteer interpreter for the town's magistrate court but she did much more for the community, O'Hare said.
"They were just married for six weeks," she said of Guthrie and Lee. "I'm glad they went together because I don't think one could have lived without the other."
Dorcas Mixer, who organized the vigil attended by 22 people, said communities on both sides of the border are hurting.
"It was a tragic accident that should not have happened," she said.
Mixer, who 30 years ago came to the United States after marrying an American citizen, said if the Mexican government took care of its citizens, such an incident could have been avoided.
The poorest of the poor are not being taken care of in Mexico and that is why they are taking their lives in their hands to illegally cross the border, Mixer said.
The culprits are the people in Mexico who live off the people trying to enter the United States, she said.
The Mexican government has to stop those who engage in the people smuggling trade, Mixer said.
But Monday was more of a time for sorrow and reflection on the lives lost, she said.
Pastor Jose Pena, who leads the Spanish congregation of the Church of God Pentecostal, said he too came to the United States from Mexico.
Guthrie and Lee are now united with God and have taken steps ahead of their loved ones, with whom they will be reunited, Pena said.
What is important to be remembered about the couple is their lives and how to best celebrate those memories, he said.
Saying he knew Lee more than Guthrie, Pena said the man he called a friend was kind and gentle and those attributes went with him so he will be a comfort to Guthrie in heaven.
He prayed for the Huachuca City couple and their family and friends, as well as for the Mexican nationals who died and their families.
Also in his prayer were a plea for God to help the injured of both nations.
The group at the vigil held birthday candles in their hands and sang "Amazing Grace," before placing their candles next to a wreath and flowers on a makeshift altar at the park.
By time the vigil was over, the sky was black and twinkling stars began to appear.
Joe Hicks wrote on Oct 8, 2007 2:22 PM: