Honoring Alison, Knox, Felix, and Lucas

On Friday, September 27, the world lost four of the most beautiful souls to walk this Earth, during Hurricane Helene.

Alison Wisely, children Felix (age 9), and Lucas (age 7), and fiance Knox Petrucci tried to evacuate from their home in Green Mountain, NC without success. This unspeakable tragedy has broken our hearts into a million pieces.

At around noon on Friday during the storm, they attempted to flee their home by car. The car began to float. They got out and tried to return to their house, but a big wave came and swept them all into the Toe River taking the lives of all four of our loved ones.

The family lived in an idyllic setting next to the river in the North Carolina mountains where they created a life full of love, family, creativity, bees, chickens, cats, dogs, lizards, music, and magic.

Brilliant and wise Alison, was a most loving mother to the boys she shared with Lance Wisely, their devoted dad. She encouraged her children to stretch their imaginations and nurtured their creative, loving, funny spirits. Aly worked as a Sanctuary Operations Manager at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary, gently guiding others through their times of grief.

Knox was a local beekeeper, and manager at Honey & the Hive in Weaverville, gifted musician, songwriter, artist, and aspiring blacksmith. Along with being an advocate for the Earth and bees, Knox was always there for friends who were like family and inspired others in the way he moved through life with authenticity and boundless love and acceptance.

Beloved, curious, precocious Felix wanted to know everything about the world. He delighted in all things magical and loved to talk about the unknown. He and his mother recently had a lot of fun producing Beyond Legends, a family-friendly podcast about cryptids, folklore, and the supernatural. He loved all the creatures of the Earth and beyond, even the ones others don’t believe in. He was fascinated by weather in general and tornadoes and hurricanes in particular.

Sweet Lucas brightened his family and friend’s days with his humor, kindness, and caring nature. He loved exploring the outdoors and had an incredible imagination. Most often sporting superhero garb and all things sparkly, Lucas never failed to make the grown-ups in his life laugh. He gave the best cuddles and loved cows of every kind.

As all can imagine the grief we are sharing as a family is unimaginable and it will be a long painful road to healing. This GoFundMe is to raise money to cover the costs of a fitting memorial and to support grieving family members and friends in their travels to the family's funeral services, and support friends and family who have been hard hit by Helene. We will be using any extra funds to memorialize Aly, Knox, Felix, and Lucas, celebrate their lives, as well as donating to local organizations that meant the world to their family, and those who are working tirelessly to assist those affected by this unspeakably, horrific climate tragedy.

Aly and Knox were to be married in a small ceremony this November. We are heartbroken to be coming together, instead, to mourn their passing.

Update 10/7 - A special thanks to Alison's employer Carolina Memorial Sanctuary who have so generously come forward to cover funeral and burial costs, and provided a serene place to lay our loved ones to rest. Our families are moved beyond words by this kindness.

Beyond Legends Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-legends/id1742741740