UPDATED for print Dec. 9, 2014, 4 p.m. — A Dec. 5 house fire in southeast Fayette County ended in tragedy, claiming the lives of long-time residents Bobby and Susan Ison.
Bobby Ison, 72, and his wife Susan, 53, died in the blaze that engulfed their home east of Brooks, said Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services Division Chief Pete Nelms. Firefighters also found five dogs that died in the smoke and flames.
Nelms said an autopsy determined that the couple died of smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire was determined to have been accidental and electrical in nature, having started in the home’s attic area, Nelms said.
Nelms said the fire at the Ison home at 909 Grant Road home near the Spalding County line was reported at 7:56 a.m. after Barbara McCallister, the couple’s daughter, returned from taking her children to school.
Nelms said McCallister reported smoke and fire at the wood frame residence.
The fire call was dispatched at 7:58 a.m., with the first unit arriving at 8:03 a.m., Nelms said.
Left, Susan and Bobby Ison. Photo provided by the family.
Firefighters arrived to find a heavy fire with approximately 75 percent of the structure involved, Nelms said, adding that it took approximately an hour to get the fire under control.
Once able to go inside, firefighters found the bodies of the couple and their dogs.
Nelms said Fayette investigators requested that a state fire investigator and K-9 unit visit the scene as a precaution, which is often customary. The state investigator found nothing out of the ordinary, Nelms said.
Speaking Monday, Charlie Ison, nephew of Bobby Ison, said, “They were good, loving people and they were well-known in the community (that included portions of Fayette, Spalding and Coweta counties). They would do anything for you.”
Charlie Ison described Susan as someone who would often stay at home.
“She was always for the family,” he said.
And he described Bobby, owner of Ison Wrecker Service, as a man who went out of his way to help people.
“He would tow cars when the person didn’t have the money to pay for the tow,” Charlie said. “And I very seldom ever saw him when he wasn’t happy.”
Speaking about their love for their family, Charlie said, “They were grand-baby crazy.”
Beyond the loss of Susan and Bobby, Ison family cousin Lauren Bishop spoke about another aspect of the fire. The family lost everything, she said, including cash and Christmas presents.
The funeral will be held Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Conner-Westbury Funeral Home chapel located at 1891 West McIntosh Road in Griffin.
The viewing will be at the Conner-Westbury Funeral Home on Dec. 10 from 5-8 p.m.
Donations for funeral expenses and to help with family needs for the children and grandchildren can be made to the Bobby and Susie Ison Donation Account at any Wells Fargo Bank and through PayPal at thefallenresurrected@live.com
Assistance specifically with funeral expenses can be arranged with Conner-Westbury Funeral Home.
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UPDATED 2:20 p.m. Dec. 8 — A Dec. 5 house fire in southeast Fayette County claimed the life of two residents, identified as Robert Ison and his wife, Tommie.
Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services Division Chief Pete Nelms said the fire at 909 Grant Road near the Spalding County line was reported at 7:56 a.m. after Barbara McCallister, the daughter of 73-year-old Bobby Ison and his wife Tommie (Susan), 53, returned from taking her children to school.
Nelms said an autopsy determined that the couple died of smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire was determined to have been accidental and electrical in nature, having started in the home’s attic area, Nelms said.
Nelms said McCallister reported smoke and fire at the small wood frame residence.
The fire call was dispatched at 7:58 a.m., with the first unit arriving at 8:03 a.m., Nelms said.
Firefighters arrived to find a heavy fire with approximately 75 percent of the structure involved, Nelms said, adding that it took approximately an hour to get the fire under control.
Once able to go inside, firefighters found the two victims, both deceased, along with five dogs that also died in the smoke and flames.
Nelms said that Fayette investigators requested that a state fire K-9 investigator visit the scene as a precaution. The state investigator found nothing out of the ordinary, Nelms said.
Speaking Monday, Charlie Ison, nephew of Bobby Ison, said, “They were good, loving people and they were well-known in the community (that included portions of Fayette, Spalding and Coweta counties). They would do anything for you.”
Charlie Ison described Susan as someone who would often stay at home.
“She was always for the family,” he said.
And he described Bobby, owner of Ison Wrecker Service, as a man who went out of his way to help people.
“He would tow cars when the person didn’t have the money to pay for the tow,” Charlie said. “And I very seldom ever saw him when he wasn’t happy.”
Speaking about their love for their family, Charlie said, “They were grand-baby crazy.”
Beyond the loss of Susan and Bobby, Ison family cousin Lauren Bishop spoke about another aspect of the fire. The family lost everything, she said, including cash and Christmas presents.
The funeral will be held Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Conner-Westbury Funeral Home chapel located at 1891 West McIntosh Road in Griffin.
The viewing will be at the Conner-Westbury Funeral Home on Dec. 10 from 5-8 p.m.
Donations for funeral expenses and to help with family needs for the children and grandchildren can be made to the Bobby and Susie Ison Donation Account at any Wells Fargo Bank and through PayPal at thefallenresurrected@live.com
Assistance specifically with funeral expenses can be arranged with Conner-Westbury Funeral Home.
