Josh Harbuck was driving home from a business trip on January 17. He'd been in Austin with a client when the two of them headed back to Fort Worth. Josh was about 70 miles from home when he lost control of his pickup on a rain-soaked road in Erath County and crashed. He died. His passenger survived.
The sudden death rocked everyone who heard about it.
Josh was 36, married to Emery, father of Hudson, 8, his dad's "Buckaroo" and Harper, 5, her daddy's "Lady Bug", his "Princess". Josh played football for TCU, was a medical sales rep for Smith & Nephew, served on the Board of Directors for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and was a founder of Black Dog Charity to help local families in need. He was the son of longtime WBAP Radio host Hal Jay. He was his parents' first born, blessed with father's quick with and his mother's soft brown eyes. The heartbreak runs deep.
From the moment word got out that Josh was dead, his wife Emery had lost her husband, and Hudson and Harper would be without their dad, the family's home in Aledo was filled with family and friends ready and willing to do whatever was needed to help.
At Josh's funeral in between laughs and tears, Hal Jay promised his daughter-in-law "You will never want for anything. Your children will never want for anything."
And, now friends of the Harbuck family are stepping up in a big way to take care of the family Josh left behind. They teamed with the nonprofit Do it for Durrett Foundation to host the Go Big or Go Home event. Josh used The fundraiser is in "honor of our incredible friend" and to "remember and honor the life of Josh".
"Josh would do this in a heartbeat for any of his friends or family," said Christen Gullatt, speaking on behalf of the committee organizing the fundraiser. "He was larger than life in all aspects. His giving nature and wanting to help others made everyone around him feel loved and accepted no matter who they were or where they came from. He left a lot to be desired."
Go Big or Go Home happens Sunday, April 2, at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth. A $50 general admission ticket can be purchased at the door, by phone or online. The ticket pays for admission and dinner. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the event starting at 7 p.m.
The evening features various musical artists including Sonny Burgess, Luke Wade & Tower 55. There will also be a silent auction and a live auction featuring items such as A Day at Globe Life Park; a round of golf and dinner with Randy Galloway, Hal Jay, Mike Moncrief and Nolan Ryan; and a round of golf Colonial, River Crest, Shady Oaks and Vaquero Country Clubs.
General Tickets: Purchase at Billy Bob’s, by phone or on-line at www.billybobstexas.com.
Donations to the Harbuck Family Fund can be made on-line at www.doitfordurrett.com.
Facebook: https://facebook.com/HarbuckFamilyFund/
Volunteers: Contact Johnny Mazon at johnnymazon@gmail.com
Live Auction: Contact Melissa Huffman - mhuffman@omnigroup.cc
