LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – 30 years worth of memories. 30 years worth of family hangouts and get togethers now only ash and rubble.<\/p>\n
Jimmy Franco said his mother\u2019s home in Shallowater was a special one. It represented a safe space where everyone could come together.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has always just been a big part of our entire family\u2019s life and everything,\u201d Franco said. \u201cIt\u2019s go to grandma\u2019s house, everyone show up at grandma\u2019s house and mom\u2019s house. It really was a landmark for all of us to get together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Franco said no matter what, everyone was welcome here. It means even more knowing he and other family members were able to call Shallowater home and have such a supportive community surrounding them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe grew up here,\u201d Franco said. \u201cEverybody\u2019s seen us through school and work and we\u2019ve built so many relationships here.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just a house that\u2019s gone, a family member is now gone, too. Franco said his younger brother, Thomas, was the one who died in the fire.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe loved everybody, he put everybody before himself,\u201d Franco said. \u201cI love him and it\u2019s just hard. He believed in God and he\u2019s in a better place with all our other family members. I\u2019m going to miss him in the long run.\u201d<\/p>\n