Joseph and Sandra Furr hope young people and parents pay more attention to the dangers of alcohol and learn a lesson from their family's tragic loss.

The couple's 19-year-old son, Daniel, died in 2008 of alcohol poisoning after drinking at a small house party in Brevard. A report showed the teen - who had spent most of his life in Charlotte and the Weddington area - had a blood alcohol content of 0.38. That's nearly five times the legal driving limit.

Julie Ann Noble, 56, of Brevard was convicted last week of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Furr's death. Authorities say she bought two bottles of bourbon for the party.

Daniel Furr was friends with Noble's son.

Noble was sentenced Friday to 16 to 20 months in prison.

Joseph Furr said the conviction was a relief, though stresses that the case was never about getting vengeance. "Nobody really wins," said Furr, of Penrose. "They will be without their mother, ... and we've already been without Daniel for about 35 months.

"But of course we will not be able to enjoy his company until we are with him in heaven."

Alcohol and partying

Joseph Furr says his son was smart, athletic, and interested in music and cooking. Daniel also was good at public speaking and writing, his father says, and may have made a good attorney one day. He was transferring to Western Carolina University.

Furr said his son had worked to avoid trouble. But about six months before he died, Furr discovered that the teen had begun drinking beer. He warned him not to go down that path.

In summer 2008, Daniel Furr met Julie Noble's teenage son when the two were working at a golf course. They became friends, and Daniel soon got closer to the rest of the Noble family, even attending a Thanksgiving dinner with them, his father said.

The week before his death, Furr went to a birthday party for his friend. But authorities were called to the Noble home after neighbors complained of noise. They found there had been drinking.

Daniel Furr and six others, including Noble, were cited in connection with the underage drinking.

Joseph Furr said his son returned to the home Dec. 26, 2008, to drop off a late-arriving birthday gift. He'd originally planned only a quick trip but was invited to the party. He called his father later to say he would spend the night there.

One of the Noble sons found Daniel Furr dead hours later.

Scholarship fund

During her trial last week, Noble testified she'd never served alcohol to anyone younger than 21, nor allowed minors to drink alcohol at her home, according to the Blue Ridge Times-News.

But the newspaper said some witnesses said Noble had been known to host parties attended by underage drinkers.

Joseph Furr said his family had been unaware of Noble's past and didn't realize initially that Daniel had been drinking with the family.

He said the trial was very emotional, but he credited the family's faith with helping them get through it.

In the years since Daniel's passing, the family also has worked to educate others about the dangers of alcohol.

They set up the J. Daniel Furr Memorial Scholarship Fund and a golf tournament, which has raised more than $18,000 for college scholarships. Recipients must sign a nonbinding pledge to abstain from alcohol or drugs while using the money.

'Other families' gain'

Joseph Furr said he's also spoken to groups about alcohol use among young people. He points to statistics such as some that show 80 percent of students will consume alcohol while in college, and five die each day of unintended consequences from alcohol.

He said he encourages parents to keep communicating with their children about alcohol, saying some parents can be in denial that their children may be drinking. He also said more parents must set an example, and do what they can to protect young people on their property.

He said some people have told the Furrs they were affected by their testimonies.

"We'd like to think that some lives have already been saved from what happened," he said. "We pray that our loss can be other families' gain." The Associated Press contributed.