‘A town that you’re proud to be from’: Family thanks Jeannette community for support following fatal house fire

Dan Cooper is not looking for thank-you’s.

Collecting clothing and monetary donations for a family affected by a fatal fire is just what the Jeannette community does.

Four of Miranda John’s children — Kyson, 7; Kinzleigh, 6; Keagan, 3; and Korbyn, 1 month — were killed in a fire March 20 that destroyed their Guy Street home. The children’s father, Tyler J. King, 27, also died in the blaze.

John and her two other children — Kaiden, 10, and Kash, 1 — were the only ones to survive.

Per John’s request, Cooper — president of the Jeannette Midget Athletic Association — gathered the organization’s youth football players and cheerleaders for a community vigil Wednesday evening at the West Jeannette baseball field.

“The John family, the boys, all came through the (athletic association). Miranda came through the program. The parents are very helpful with the program,” Cooper said. “I’ve known them from the time they all played down here at midgets to the time they got to the high school program.”

When John suggested a vigil be held to honor her children and fiancé, Cooper knew he had to help.

“They’re part of our family. We jumped in, and not to get any credit or anything like that,” Cooper said. “It’s what we’re supposed to do. That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

Clothing donations for John, Kaiden and Kash were collected during the vigil. Three 24-foot-long trailers have been filled with donations of clothing and household items for the family over the past week, Cooper said.

Local barber Rod’lynn Griffie gave haircuts to attendees, the proceeds of which will benefit the family.

“I know how it is for people to lose a lot, lose their friends, family,” said Griffie, 19, of Greensburg. “It’s hard. I just wanted to help out any way I could.”

John, her children and about 40 of her and King’s family members attended the vigil. Awards were presented to first responders and neighbors who helped the family on the night of the fire.

“If it was not for them, we would not have Miranda, Kaiden and Kash here with us today,” said Natasha Reaggle, John’s first cousin. “Every day since the tragedy, there has been an outpouring of love and support from prayers, meals brought to the house, the memorial fundraiser this past Monday, those in attendance tonight — the list goes on.”

Reaggle, 42, of Greensburg grew up in Jeannette.

“Jeannette may be a small town, but we pull together when it matters the most,” Reaggle said. “It’s a town that you’re proud to be from.”

A formal memorial service will be held for the deceased family members at 10 a.m. April 5 at Word of Life Church in Hempfield, Reaggle said. A private burial and reception will follow.

Elliott Federal Credit Union reported on its social media page Tuesday that donations to a fund there have totaled more than $110,000. Those amounts are in addition to the $111,000 that has been donated on a GoFundMe page for the family.

A second GoFundMe account for a neighboring family whose home was destroyed in the fire has raised more than $21,000.