FIRE FUND

May 20--WARRENSBURG -- Decorated Vietnam War combat veteran Archie Specker and his wife, Chris Specker, escaped the fire that burned their house and barn to the ground.

Getting out representing part of the good news, neighbor Renee Jones said Saturday. Also good news is the Speckers had insurance on the house at 722 N.W. OO.

But with good comes bad, she said.

Chris Specker suffered a stroke as a result of the fire, everything the Speckers owned burned, and their insurance does not cover the contents, Jones said.

"They lost everything, even his wallet," she said. "There's nothing salvageable."

While the fire burned, Archie Specker, 83, said his grandfather build the house and his grandmother delivered his father there.

Jones said he hopes the community will help the Speckers.

"They're in a temporary housing situation," she said.

Church of Christ in Odessa helped with housing, and provided a bed and some other furniture, Jones said, but the Speckers need more to cover expenses. As they work to get back on their feet, they will need to settle with the mortgage holder and insurer.

"(Archie Specker) feels confident that once the mortgage is paid for, there's not going to be that much left over," Jones said.

There are two ways to donate: send a check marked "Archie Specker Fund" to Church of Christ in Odessa, or donate online to the Speckers at https://www.gofundme.com/djdna7-recovery-after-house-fire.

The church took up a special donation Sunday for the Speckers.

Jones said she has known the Speckers for less than three years, but they are like family. She said she has helped the Speckers through medical issues, taking care of the laundry and house, and the Speckers have been to the baptism of the Joneses' daughter.

"We are very close," she said, and as they chatted this week, Jones learned Archie Specker is a retired Air Force major. "He has two Distinguished Flying Crosses for saving his fellow soldiers in Vietnam. He is very humble about it."

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