Sharlynne Wermter of Woods Cross Roads has experienced something no mother ever wants to have to go through—unsuccessfully trying to save the life of her injured child.

Her 16-year-old son, Brycen Wermter, died in a boating accident in the York River on Sunday, July 30.

That day was filled with fun and excitement for the Wermter and McDonald families. Sharlynne and her ex-husband Carl Wermter had been urged by their son Brycen to set aside differences stemming from their divorce and to bring their two families together in friendship.

With a new 24-foot pontoon boat in the family, Sharlynne and her husband, Jon McDonald, invited more than a dozen extended family members to spend July 30 out on the York River. There were step-moms and -dads and -siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a grandmother all on board. On top of that, Brycen and his cousin Braiden Mitchell had jet skis, with Brycen newly licensed to operate his.

“It was the first outing with both families,” said Shar...