• Prayers across Wyoming 

By Mark Davis
Powell Tribune
Via- Wyoming News Exchange

POWELL — With messages of support and forgiveness Friday night, candlelight vigils across the state offered special prayers for 7-year-old Olivia Blackmer, at the time the sole survivor of a shooting in Byron on Feb. 10. 

Sadly, the following day Olivia succumbed to head injuries from a gunshot wound in a Salt Lake City hospital, adding to the sorrow and anger felt from the horrific incident in the tiny Big Horn County town that took the lives of four young girls and their mother, Tranyelle Harshman. 

At least 15 communities held vigils simultaneously at sunset, including the Big Horn Basin communities of Byron, Powell, Lovell, Cody and Cowley. 

Braving the brutal cold, hundreds attended the organized events as tears flowed and families and friends embraced while trying to understand what happened in Byron that Monday afternoon. 

In Byron more than 50 people gathered in Southside Park near the Harshman family home. 

Event Coordinator Samantha Delgado offered prayers in the form of poetry while friends and community leaders asked those in attendance to find forgiveness in their hearts for the mother, who was suffering from severe depression before taking her children’s lives. 

“A prayer for Olivia, prayers for the families, prayers for all the people that were on the scene — pretty much just prayer for everybody — for healing and strength,” Delgado said. 

Emma and Isabella Scott traveled from Frannie to be at the vigil. Seven-year-old Isabella was a classmate of Olivia Blackmer at Rocky Mountain Elementary School. 

Despite her tender age, her mother said, “She knows the truth.” 

“It’s hitting the school hard,” she said, adding that the school reached out and offered counseling to students and their families. 

She also said Zeke, the facility support dog, was important for the students and staff and that the students went through writing exercises, describing the good qualities of Olivia and Brailey to help them deal with the situation. 

Isabella held her candle steady while staying close to her mother, ensuring it wouldn’t go out during the vigil. 

Byron Mayor Allan Clark offered support for all those involved in the shootings, from family and friends to first responders. The mayor spoke softly as the crowd tightened into a circle while nursing candles in the north wind, shedding tears and holding their loved ones. 

“It’s hard to imagine that something like this could happen in Byron, Wyoming,” he said. “But it has, and so we have to accept that. And we come here to meet and to celebrate their lives, and to move forward.” 

The town seemed to be collectively in shock through the week, but started erecting a memorial near the Harshman home on East Shoshone Avenue on Thursday, laying stuffed Teddy bears and candles in the snow. 

Clark said remembering the days following the Monday incident is important. 

“I appreciate all of you and hope we can remember this evening, remember those people and help those that are in real need right now,” he said. 

Clark then opened the vigil to those who wanted to share. There were supportive and kind words for all involved, especially first responders and medical staff. 

Yet the main message from those taking the lead spot in the snow-covered park was forgiveness for Tranyelle Harshman. 

“She was one of the best people I’ve ever met, and she just loved her kids so much … she just loved her kids,” said Sister Brooklyn Barlow, a member of the LDS Church who had knocked on the Harshman’s door and met the family, inviting them to church and escorting them to services on several occasions. 

Lovell resident and father of several children Jen Holder echoed her sentiment. 

“I’ve seen a lot of people demonizing Tranyelle about everything that has happened, but people are truly struggling with depression,” he said. “Quit being mean. We need to come together as a community, be kind to each other, and, you know, respect each other as human beings. We all are dealing with issues, you know, and depression is very, very real.” 

In an interview after the vigil, Holder, who was surrounded by his family, said he has struggled with severe depression and often had thoughts of attempting suicide. 

But when he was at one of his lowest moments he had difficulty finding emergency counseling or affordable long-term help to assist him. 

“There’s so many people that have said that they hoped that the mom dies,” Holder said. “It’s hard to see, because I see it from her side. I’ve been to the point to where I wanted to leave this world. I can’t say I wanted to take my kids with me, but we all deal with this differently,” he said. 

Powell vigil 

In Powell, Bill Harvison, pastor of Victory Baptist Church, led prayers for the 80 to 100 in attendance. 

“[Forgiveness] may not come today or tomorrow, but I think people should strive to try to get to the point to where they can forgive,” Harvison said in an interview after the vigil. “I believe that’s an important part of healing.” 

During the vigil, Harvison led a prayer specifically for Olivia before asking for a moment of silence for people to pray however they wanted. He then said another prayer for the parents, first responders, medical staff, and then the community as a whole. There were no other speakers. 

“I didn’t have a message. I just simply prayed,” Harvison said. 

Cliff Harshman, Tranyelle’s husband, the father of the two youngest girls killed and stepfather for the two older girls, was present at the Powell vigil. 

After the prayers he walked up to Harvison and gave him a big hug. Harvison said they had never met prior to the hug. In response to anger in the community, Harvison said his only response as he counseled them was to pray with them and go through scripture. 

He quoted Proverbs, 3:5; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding.” 

But some are not ready to forgive, expressing anger especially online, including some who have expressed anger with the idea of forgiveness and anger with God. 

“It’s OK to be angry at God. He can take it, just don’t stay angry,” the Southern Baptist pastor said. 

A gofundme.com fundraiser for Cliff Harshman exceeded its goal of $100,000 in less than a week. There is now a fundraiser for Quinn and Katelynn Blackmer on the same site and has also exceeded $100,000. 

Memorial services for Jordan, Brooke and Tranyelle Harshman will be held on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1026 Ave. E in Powell. 

The Blackmer family has yet to announce services.