June 28, 1960, started as a beautiful, summer day in Lewis County; however, tragedy struck later that evening, forever changing the lives of the Owen, Norton and Gilkerson families. History holds this to be one of the deadliest house fires in the county. Fire Chief Frank Bras was called to a home fully ablaze at 11:57 p.
m. A later determination concluded that a smoldering cigarette located in the davenport was responsible for the deaths of four members of the Spencer-Lionel-Owen family. The family came from St.
Cloud, Florida, to attend the funeral of George Aden Norton, which they missed due to car trouble in Wisconsin along the way. Spencer and Ruth Owen, who met in Napavine, were married in 1953 at the Lewis County Courthouse following Spencer’s naval service in the Korean War. They were in the process of relocating their young family back to Lewis County when they arrived over the weekend to Owen’s sister and brother in law’s home, Warren and Dana Gilkerson at 716 E Street in Centralia.
The Owen family was sleeping on the second story when Spencer was awakened by smoke and flames just before midnight. He quickly exchanged communication with Ruth to get the older boys out while he rushed their 9-month-old son down the flaming stairs in his bassinet. He attempted to alert Mr.
and Mrs. Gilkerson to get out as well, not yet knowing they had already escaped. Once he realized that he did not see Ruth and the boys outside, he fought to get back into the house but was restr.
