CRESTVIEW - Renee Flaherty's mother and three brothers huddled at the ends of the front two pews of Live Oak Baptist Church, away from the crowd.

But the family found out Sunday they were not alone in their grief.

More than 125 friends, co-workers, playmates and neighbors of the Flahertys joined her family to mourn and comfort each other.

Flaherty and her three children - Geoffrey, 8, Amanda, 6, and Logan, 4 - were discovered shot to death Sept. 11 in their home on John King Road. Flaherty's boyfriend, Jeffrey Hutchinson, is charged with four counts of open murder.

Sandey Trimmer didn't know the Flahertys. But her voice filled with emotion and grew softer as she sang an inspirational song during the memorial service and her eyes remained wet with tears after hugging Flaherty's family afterwards.

"This is what Crestview's about," Trimmer said. "Whether we know you or not, people do still care here."

Roger Elmore, Flaherty's oldest brother, and other family members said they appreciated the loving embrace they said they felt from the small town the Flahertys lived in the past year after moving from their home state of Washington.

"This service was the biggest help to me," said Elmore, who made the trip with his brothers and mother from their homes near Spokane and Tacoma, Wash. "I cried a lot more at this service. It's hit hard in all three places."

Melva Elmore, Flaherty's mother, thanked those at the service who lined up to offer hugs, prayers and comforting words before and after the memorial service in Crestview.

"Never in my life did I expect something like this," she said. "This makes it a little easier for me. The community here has been tremendous."

Two funeral services were held in Washington for the Flahertys, and co-workers and neighbors planned the memorial service here to honor the Flaherty family and help people cope with the tragedy.

Gary Graff, one of Flaherty's supervisors at the Niceville post office where she worked, helped organize the memorial service.

"This was a love offering to the family and community," he said. "She was very cheerful and always smiling. She was one of the happiest people I knew. This was something we felt we needed to do."

Added Dee Schelker, a co-worker of Renee Flaherty: "I'm going to miss her," she said. "I keep expecting her to comeback through the door wondering where her time card is. I'm glad I got to know her family."

Flaherty's mother and brothers said they are struggling with the deaths and with going on with their own lives. Earlier in the day they drove by the Crestview home, where one of the deadliest scenes occurred in the area.

"I'll miss her phone calls," Melva Elmore said. "Mr. Hutchinson's family is grieving also, I'm sure. I feel sorry for them too."

Darran Johnson, Flaherty's youngest brother, lived with his sister and babysat for her whenever she needed.

"They told us (the shootings) took only 90 seconds," Johnson said, as he gazed at enlarged photos of his sister, nephews and niece on a stand and table at the front of the church. "I've watched my clock for 90 seconds. It seems like forever. I love my sister and her kids. I'll be dealing with this the rest of my life."