Lowry family picks up pieces after July 4th house fire

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

When a fire broke out on Saturday night in Erron and Shelley Lowry’s garage, Shelley said they were next door at their neighbors’ house on Magnolia Avenue. The Copperas Cove Fire Department came and extinguished the fire, but the part of the family’s home that did not burn was heavily smoke damaged. Lowry said they were able to salvage nothing. What hurts the most, Lowry said, is they weren’t able to get their two dogs out of the home, and the family pets died of smoke inhalation. Right now, the Lowrys are grateful for how the community has rallied around them as they begin to pick up the pieces. They are now lodged at the Comfort Suites here in Copperas Cove. “I am overwhelmed with people contacting us, asking how they can help,” she added. Colton’s daycare, Education Connection, is accepting donations of clothing for the family, to include men’s XL shirts, 34×34 pants and size 10 shoe; women’s XL shirts, size 12/14 pants/shorts and 7.5 shoe. Donations are accepted at Education Connection, 2207 Florence Road in Killeen. Donations are also accepted at Cleo Bay Honda, 3907 E. Central Texas Expressway in Killeen, with points of contact Tammi or Elaine, 254-690-7355. In Copperas Cove, donations for the Lowrys are also being accepted at Stepping Stones Daycare, 1802 MLK Jr. Dr., by either Samantha Melbille or Garon Powell- Russell, 254-542-655. “We can accept clothes here, but nothing very big in donations,” said Powell- Russell. The daycare is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Donations may also be brought to Comfort Suites in Copperas Cove. For those with larger items to donate, Shelley Lowry can be reached at (559) 210-1205. Tracy Fogle Hanson of Education Connection has also set up a GoFundMe page for the Lowrys: gofundme. com/ymt6ewk. Shelley said the family came to Copperas Cove when her husband was in the Army, and they are grateful and amazed at the outpouring of support from the community. Copperas Cove Deputy Fire Chief Gary Young said the cause of the fire is offi