Both were students in the same Saranac Lake Central School District building. Jewtraw had just finished fourth grade at Petrova Elementary School when she died on July 22 after a long battle with brain cancer.

Rascoe, a seventh grader at Saranac Lake Middle School, was killed earlier this month in a snowmobile crash on her family’s property in Lake Clear. Her friend, 12-year-old Christina Harvey of Saranac Lake, was seriously injured in the same crash and remains hospitalized with a broken neck.

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Gracee

Members of the Harlem Globetrotters meet with Gracee Jewtraw, center, and her twin brother Noah Jewtraw in February at the Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Antonio Olivero)

Gracee was 8 years old and attending Lake Placid Elementary School in the fall of 2014 when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. An initial surgery removed about 40 percent of it, then she started chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Spaghetti dinners and bake sales were held to raise money for her family’s expenses.

By the spring of 2015, the cancer was in remission, and Gracee and her twin brother Noah moved to Saranac Lake to attend Petrova Elementary School. In September of last year, Gracee started fourth grade at Petrova. Unfortunately, however, the cancer returned over the winter in a new, more aggressive form.

“It had changed drastically, to the point where, eventually, there was really nothing they could do,” said family friend Melissa Strack.

Another round of chemotherapy treatments ensued, and the community rallied behind Gracee again. A Go Fund Me page was started. There were more bake sales.

In February, around Gracee and Noah’s 10th birthday, the kids were treated to front-row seats and a meet-and-greet with the Harlem Globetrotters at a game in Lake Placid.

Petrova Elementary School student Phoebe Glennon holds up the luminary bag she decorated Sept. 9 in memory of Gracee Jewtraw. (Enterprise photo — Chris Knight)

In May, a spring dance at Petrova turned into Gracee’s prom after her friend, Carsyn Maroun, asked her to be his date. Gracee wore a pink prom dress, and the pair were crowned king and queen of the dance.

The last few weeks were incredibly difficult, Strack said, but Gracee kept fighting until she passed away peacefully with her family at her side.

“I think she held on so long because she was so worried about others, mostly her mom, Andrea,” Strack said. “One way I put it to Andrea was, she was put here for a reason. She had a job to do, and she more than did it. Her job was to teach us all about being humble and kind, courage and bravery. Now she’s needed elsewhere. She’s too good for this earth.”

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Harlie

Harlie Rascoe (Photo from 2015-16 yearbook, Saranac Lake Middle School)

While Gracee’s passing was sad and tragic, at least her family and friends were able to say goodbye. That wasn’t the case for Harlie Rascoe, whose sudden death sent shockwaves of grief through the community.

State police said Harlie was driving a 2002 Ski-Doo sled in her driveway with her friend Christina as a passenger when the snowmobile struck a Ford F-350 that was parked in the driveway and then hit a tree.

Harlie was rushed to Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy later found she died of multiple traumatic injuries. Christina, who reportedly broke every bone in her neck, was airlifted to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.

Friends and family remembered Harlie as “always smiling” and a “beautiful soul.”

“I never saw her without a smile,” wrote Sue Van Nortwick, Harlie’s teacher for two years. “She was one of the kindest young ladies I have ever known. I will miss seeing her beautiful, smiling face in the hallways.”

“She was just like the sweetest person,” said Kailey Kipping, an eighth-grader who was on the school’s modified volleyball team with Rascoe. “She was always smiling, and she was always just really, really happy.”

School officials assembled a crisis team and made counselors available to students when they returned to class. Sudents made cards containing get-well messages for Christina and condolences for Harlie’s family.

GoFundMe pages launched for Harvey and Rascoe’s family quickly surpassed their initial goals. As of Dec. 15, they had raised a combined $26,000.

Funeral services for Harlie were held Dec. 16 and 17. A fundraising dinner for both families was scheduled for Dec. 21 at the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department.

As of Dec. 15, Christina was in critical condition in UVM Medical Center’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Her medical team was still weighing whether to attempt spinal surgery, put her through traction, or some combination of both, according to her aunt Melissa Kline.

“We’re hopeful,” Kline said. “That’s the spirit we’re feeling right now.”