On the morning of 17 January 1984, Margaret Newell died in her attempt to save a ninety-two-year- old woman when flames swept through the house where she worked as a homemaker. Mrs. Newell had arrived to attend to the elderly woman an hour before fire broke out in the basement and soon raged out of control. While the adult family members left the house with the children, Mrs. Newell assumed responsibility for her charge and hurried to the upper floor. As fire spread quickly to the upstairs bedroom she assisted the woman, walking slowly because of age and illness, but escape became impossible. Both perished.