House fire claims the life of a Tower businesswoman

Lisa Dixon-Murray, a local business woman who grew up in Tower and remained close with her family throughout her 43-year life, passed away in a tragic house fire early April 27.

?She was a great person,? said former husband Dennis Murray. ?She would do anything for you, anything. She would not hurt you, she would not steal from you — she was a good person.?

Murray?s body was found in a bedroom by Forest-Waverly firefighters. Neighbors called in the fire at 1:44 a.m., with fire crews having to travel a little more than a block to the Barclay Avenue home, which sits on the shore of Tower Pond.

Carol Rainey, who lives directly across the roadway from the home, saw no flames when she was awakened by a family member, just ?horrible black smoke? that looked like ?black cotton candy,? pouring out of the structure.

THE WHITE HO– USE, with its gutted black interior, still had police tape around it Wednesday afternoon. The family still had not been given permission to go into the house as the investigation into the official cause was ongoing.

The fire may have started in or near a wall in the kitchen, according to the preliminary findings of law enforcement, who are required to investigate fires involving fatalities.

Murray, who was married to Lisa for 12 years, but had known her since she was 19, said the structure was a double-wide trailer with additions, which had been constructed in the 1960s.

Murray owned and operated Quality Sewing in another building on the property. She had been in business for more than a decade making boat and snowmobile covers, as well as other various items.

Her older sister, Jeri Bundy, said sewing was among several things Lisa enjoyed doing.

?She loved boating, motorcycling, her sewing job, her nieces,? said Bundy. ?She was very outgoing, just a super person.? Murray had no children but took her nieces under her wings as her own.

BUNDY SAID Lisa also enjoyed having picnics. ?She liked being on the pond and having her picnics outside,? said Bundy, who had talked to Lisa the night before the fire. ?We called each other every night, whether we saw each other, or had anything to say,? she added.

Bundy had been sleeping when she received the call from her older sister, Jordan Covell, about the fire.

Murray had been living with boyfriend, Todd Lonsdale, 44. He got out of the building, and after running to a neighbor?s house to call the fire department, ran back in to try and get Lisa out, according to a family member.

According to Cheboygan County sheriff Dale Clairmont, Lonsdale was found by firefighters trying to put out the fire with what may have been a fire extinguisher. He was taken to Cheboygan Memorial Hospital with critical injuries. He was released Tuesday.

IT IS THE second tragedy to hit the family in less than 22 months. It will be two years ago in July, Kayla Dixon, 19, was struck and killed by another vehicle while outside of her vehicle on South Black River Road. Kayla had a daughter, who also spent time at her aunt Lisa?s house.

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It is devastating,? said Murray. ?Totally devastating. She should not have had to die that way. She had her whole life in front of her.?

Another member of the family, Lisa?s brother-in-law, also was dealing with an alcohol-related car crash that occurred several hours after the fire and resulted in an arrest for drunk driving.

The head-on collision in front of Bundy?s Party Story sent two Onaway teenagers to the hospital. A female teen remains hospitalized in stable condition.

A graveside service was conducted Monday for Murray by Elder Jim Morgan. She is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

The Michigan State Police fire marshal is investigating the incident. The preliminary investigation indicates ?no signs of foul play,? said Clairmont.

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