Jim Combs, 56, died in a raging fire that completely destroyed his home in Belle Villa mobile home park on Tuesday afternoon.
His beloved cat survived the fire and ran around the yard, but then succumbed next to the shed.
Management in the office across the street from his home first saw the fire shortly after 3 p.m. and called the fire department and family members, who looked after Combs.
Mr. Combs lived alone and had many medical problems. He was in constant pain and wasn’t able to take his medications on time, family said.
Family members said Mr. Combs saw the mobile home in the Independent and has occupied it since February 2005.
His sister, Susan Combs, got word of the fire at 3:30 p.m. while driving a school bus for the Lincoln schools. She hurried over after her shift ended.
She said her brother was disabled and was a Navy veteran. He has had four strokes and some heart attacks.
“He was a very nice, caring man,” Susan said.
She said her brother was a smoker and sometimes forgot where he left his cigarettes. There was a problem with clutter and he really couldn’t take care of himself, she said.
The family had been to court to get guardianship of him so they could move him into an assisted living facility. The last court session delayed the process.
His son Matthew Combs of Westland had been out working under his dad’s mobile home the day before. He was in Plymouth when management called him about the fire and he raced to the scene.
Mr. Combs’ sister Keta sped to the fire from her home in Holiday West and said she got there before fire fighters. One driver on the road didn’t understand her urgency and horn honking and actually slowed down to impede her progress, perhaps thinking it was road rage.
Mr. Combs was from a family of eight and his sisters looked after him, taking him out to eat and cooking him dinners to heat up. They also kept him in cell phones, since he kept going through them.
At the scene, Belleville police kept the public and Detroit television crews back from the fire while city fire fighters worked. Van Buren Township fire officials were also present to help Belleville with the fire investigation and to talk to the family.
Belleville Police chief Gene Taylor said his officers knew Mr. Combs and had tried to help him out over the years.
The family said his wish was to be cremated and a service will be scheduled.