Son Finds Mother’s Body In Smoke-Filled Home

A 77-year-old Coeur d’Alene woman died in her mobile home Sunday after she apparently was overcome by smoke caused by a small fire.

Mildred Marie Sumner’s body was found by her son shortly before 4 p.m.

When Larry Sumner arrived, the blue mobile home at 3132 Julia Road was full of smoke.

“It was hot,” he said. “The La-Z-Boy chair was down to wire, it got so hot.”

Sumner said he turned off the electricity and used a fire extinguisher to douse a smoldering pillow, but it was too late.

He said his mother was proud she owned her own home, but she needed constant care from family members and hospice nurses.

Sumner said his wife would stop by to help in the morning, and he would stop in to make dinner and make sure she was in bed at night.

Investigators have yet to determine what caused the fire, but they believe it was probably an accident.

, DataTimes