Community Holds Vigil for Katrina Gubler Long After Flash Flood Tragedy

Friends, family and employees gathered on Sunday in Spanish Fork for a candlelight vigil honoring Katrina Gubler Long, who died along with four other family members in a suspected flash-flooding event in Wayne County over the weekend. The group, which included co-founder of Summit Medical Spa Sam Butler and close friend Meagan Dexter, remembered Long as a businesswoman, gardener, outdoorswoman, hockey mom and fire-fighter’s wife.

The family had been camping, hiking and rappelling in a canyon when the flooding occurred. Long’s daughter, Lydia, was not on the trip because she was working as a nurse in Kentucky.

"Her and Katrina were very close," Butler said, noting their partnership in founding Summit Medical Spa and their shared goal of improving services for first-responders.

"She wanted to make sure they were OK and that they had places to express grief without even having to say a word," Butler added.

Dexter recalled Long’s support during personal health challenges, saying Long encouraged her to pursue medical testing and treatment.

"She opened up all of the services and said, ‘Go do hormones, go get your blood drawn, try this,’" Dexter said.

Long met her husband, Provo Fire Captain Spencer Long, while working at Red Mountain Spa; together they raised a blended family that included Long’s son Reid, her daughter Lydia, and the couple’s younger sons Thayne and Gage, who played hockey.

The vigil highlighted the family’s reputation for adventure, community involvement and close-knit relationships, with attendees expressing gratitude for having known Long.

Authorities have not released further details, and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances of the flash flood.