‘Dearest’: Family remembers couple killed in Fresno County crash | YourCentralValley.com

CARUTHERS, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A memorial service was held Wednesday at the Church of Latter-day Saints of Jesus Christ in Caruthers for Paul and Mary Hardin, two missionaries from Texas who officials said were killed by a drunk driver on Saturday became.

The couple had only moved to the Central Valley earlier this year and were looking forward to the trip, but on Saturday that joy was taken away from them.

Nearly a hundred people filled the church on Wednesday to commemorate the couple’s lives.

Mary’s sister Amy Lott says her entire family dropped everything and flew away after hearing the news.

“They were the most loving and close family and this is really very difficult,” Lott said.

The couple leaves behind a large family with 11 children and 23 grandchildren.

Her son Enoch Hardin says he was the first to get the call about his parents’ deaths and had to break the news to his siblings.

“It was hard because we are so close and share the kind of love that we share. It was more of a burden on my shoulders to share that pain and process the other emotions,” Enoch Hardin said.

The memorial service took place just hours after the first court date of the couple accused of murder, David Alvarado.

Alvarado has been convicted of driving under the influence six times in the past 30 years.

Because the Hardin family lived out of state, the judge allowed them to make statements in court during Wednesday’s arraignment hearing.

Each of them describes how their family was torn apart.

“As long as the defendant has a mouth to drink and hands and feet to drive, he needs to be kept away from alcohol and vehicles for the rest of his life,” said Anon Striker of the Hardin family.

The Hardin children say they will continue to mourn their parents for the rest of their lives.

Meanwhile, Alvarado’s next court date will be in June.