Dear Family, Friends, and Compassionate Supporters,

We are devasted to share that our mom and dad, Richard and Linda King, lost their home of nearly 30 years in a fire yesterday in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. My mom designed this home, and we all helped build it. Their home burned to the ground. They lost everything. Their savings, my mom’s life work of paintings, family photos, family videos, dad’s collectibles, all of dad’s livelihood, his business documents and supplies, everything were also lost. His business is gone. Family heirlooms, it’s all gone. 

We don’t know how the fire started. All we know is Mom and Dad were resting, and then something was wrong. By the time they saw the smoke, they only had minutes before the house went up in flames. Dad got up and went down to the basement. It was all smoke. The fire had already started and was out of control without anything he could do to stop it. He couldn’t breathe because the smoke was so bad and in seconds the smoke was so thick, he couldn’t see. He quickly got out at the closest exit, which was the basement doors below the porch. By this point the fire was so bad, Dad could not go back, nor could he go through the front door in the event he needed to rescue mom.

At the same time, Mom was upstairs and got up and saw smoke billowing under the basement. She called 911 and they told her to get out immediately. Mom could not go back into the house and only had one option to escape. Luckily, she was able to escape to safety through the balcony porch ramp in the ice and snow. At this moment neither knew where each other were. It was dark outside. Dad started yelling from the basement to “get out” and mom was yelling for dad trying to make sure he didn’t go back in. For us as their kids, hearing that mom and dad were screaming to each other to get out, with neither able to go back in the house, is gut wrenching and terrifying. They’ve been married for almost 49 years. They didn’t know if the other was out of the house. As their children, family, and grandchildren, almost losing either one of them in this fire, evokes emotions like no other.

Moments later, they quickly found each other both out of the house, and watched as just minutes later, their house of nearly 30 years, holding all their life, belongings, and memories, went up in flames. The firefighters tried to do what they could. However, my parents watched in horror, in 6-degree freezing temperatures, as the top floor collapsed. It all happened so fast. After Mom and Dad watched the upper level of their house fall, the top floor was gone, the roof gone, the frame gone, their entire home of nearly 30 years burned to the ground.

There was nothing left anyone could do to stop the fire. In a matter of moments, the house went up in flames. They’ve lost everything. From the pictures, you can see there’s nothing left. They left with the clothes they had on, mom in slippers, dad’s cell phone, and their dog. Mom’s phone and computers burned in the fire. The only way to reach them right now is through Dad’s phone. The house has completely burned down, with nothing left but ashes, and has continued to burn any inch of the house left over the next few days. Understandably, they are devastated and are processing the reality, but are at peace that they are alive.

We praise God for his mighty mercy that our parents were protected. We are so grateful Mom and Dad made it out with their life. This is all so heartbreaking and devastating. Dad is almost 78 and mom is 73. Dad is a Vietnam veteran and served this country. Mom is a beautiful creative painter who has brought beauty to those she loves. It will take time to heal and rebuild. We are all figuring out what needs to be done and how to get everything organized to support them.

If you are among the many kind souls who are asking how you can be of help, donations are welcomed and deeply appreciated. They will help tremendously. For those of you who know our parents and our families, we will need your help to group source family pictures from 70+ years of life. Thank you to everyone for all the prayers and offers to help. Please give however you can to help mom and dad recover from this devastating and life altering fire.

It’s moments like this that puts life into perspective. We’re always so busy and occupied with our day to day lives. In minutes, everything can change. We are grateful and shaken to the core. This situation could have had a different outcome. One different decision could have resulted in one or both of our parents losing their life in this fire. We are continuing to process what’s happened. As an entire family, we are grieving the loss of the things that have deep meaning and are irreplaceable. We thank you for your concern, support, and offers to help. Please continue to pour out your love, prayers, and encouragement for them during this time.

All our love,

Amy & Mike, Melanie & Chad, Andrew

(Richard and Linda King’s daughters, their spouses, and son)

Financial Help: 

This link: https://givesendgo.com/ kingfamilyfire

Venmo: @Mike-Bohn-9

Clothing Help: 

It’s freezing cold right now in Arkansas.

Mom’s clothing size is size 14 in pants/jeans and size L/XL in tops. She needs turtlenecks, soft clothes, sweaters, warm clothes, coats, and size 8 ½ women’s shoes. She needs warm boots that are soft on her feet because of multiple foot surgeries.

Dad clothing size is (36/30 in jeans or 38/30) shoe size is 10, but he must wear special diabetic shoes. Funds to buy those shoes are the most helpful.

Address: 

Group Source Photo link to come: