A Millersburg family who lost its father and husband, Robert Walker, 37, of Fulton in a house fire on Dec. 12 hopes to be in a new home by New Year's Eve.
The family - Jamie Battles, 30, of Millersburg and her three children - has decided to live in a new home on the same spot where the Dec. 12 fire took place. Battles, a girlfriend of Robert Walker for almost 15 years, said the location is a midpoint between her jobs in Columbia and Fulton. Her children also want to continue attending school in New Bloomfield and continue living near their friends.
The home sits off of County Road 323. Battles said living in the country is a must for her and her family. She loves going on the front porch to star gaze and building bonfires in the backyard for her children.
Battles has been missing her wide open spaces, where she can be as loud and silly as she wants with her children. Battles and her three children have been temporarily living in a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with Battles' friend Crystal Atterberry. Atterberry was also Robert Walker's girlfriend of nearly 17 years and the couple was recently engaged. Battles and Atterberry, both friends and significant others of Robert Walker simultaneously, are happy being connected to each other through friendship and their relationships with Robert Walker.
They have been comfortable with their lifestyle of more than a decade. Battles, Atterberry and Robert Walker all lived together for multiple years previously.
Their strongest connection, though, is through their children. Atterberry is the mother of her and Robert Walker's 3-year-old daughter, Pandora Walker. Battles' children - Jasmine, 13, Raven, 12, and Robert Walker Jr., 10 - are Pandora Walker's half siblings.
Remembering Robert Walker
Looking back on Robert Walker's life, his family describes him as a loving and caring person who was dedicated to his job as a Petro diesel mechanic and above all else, his five children. Serena Walker, 16, is the oldest of Robert Walker's children and has a different mother.
"He did things for his kids that he didn't do for us," Battles said.
Both women agreed Robert Walker had a playful personality. Battles said he would jokingly tease the family, like standing in front of the TV during an intense video game to cause fun family commotion. Battles and Atterberry said they see that light-spirited personality in their children today.
Robert Walker had special activities with his children. He would try to outscore Robert Walker Jr. in "Call of Duty" kills. With Jasmine Walker, he spoke a special language only the two of them understood.
"I always thought of him as a best friend of mine," Jasmine Walker said.
Together, they loved to watch World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and favorited the wrestling trio the Wyatt family so much that the family decided to have Robert Walker cremated in a Wyatt family T-shirt.
It was believed and previously reported that Robert Walker died of smoke inhalation. After the Boone/Callaway Medical Examiner's Office performed an autopsy, Battles and Atterberry said Robert Walker died from heart failure as a result of the stress and anxiety from the fire.
Robert Walker attended Fulton, South Callaway and North Callaway high schools, but dropped out when he needed to support his family financially. At North Callaway, Robert Walker was a football player.
New year brings meaning to family
Battles and Atterberry act as a parental unit, helping each other with challenges of day-to-day life. Battles' children call Atterberry "Aunt Crystal" and Pandora Walker calls Battles "Aunt Jamie."
Battles and Atterberry first met as teenagers when Battles moved in next to Atterberry in what they estimate was 1998 or 1999. Since then, the two have been friends sharing a love for one man and major life experiences. Atterberry was present for the birth of all of Battles children. When Battles' mother went off of life support, Atterberry was with Battles' mother in her final moments.
"I watched Jamie's mom take her last breath," Atterberry said.
Now, they are comforting each other and their children as they cope with the loss of the family's husband and father.
The New Year's resolution for Battles, Atterberry and their children is to "get back on their feet."
With community support, they've been able to start that process. They've received donations from Socket, SERVE Inc., Red Cross and random people who, Battles said, have contacted her through Facebook or talked to her in public. She said a woman once ran after her in a parking lot to see how she could help.
Battles said she cried on Christmas, a day she described as "amazing." After the fire, Battles and Atterberry couldn't afford Christmas gifts, but their children received what they asked for and more when Socket, which adopted the family through SERVE, came through with gifts.
Battles stacked three vehicles in two trips with clothing from the Clothes Cupboard in Fulton. They've received numerous boxes of food and canned goods. Atterberry's apartment eventually was stuffed with donated items, which forced them to hold most of those donations in a storage facility.
Battles said she's not sure what she does and does not have because of an overwhelming outpouring from the community. Once she moves into her new home, she said she will know what her necessities are.
The family is continuing to seek financial support. Robert Walker's funeral services totaled about $5,000, Atterberry said. To help cover the cost, Atterberry took out a $3,500 loan with her bank. About $1,000 remains to be paid off and is due at the end of December. With her own bills to pay, Atterberry has little left to pay toward the funeral bill.
Donations for funeral costs can go to the Maupin Funeral Home in memory of Robert Walker. The number for the Maupin Funeral Home is 573-642-3334.
Battles, Atterberry and their children expressed thankfulness for everything they've been given so far - from socks to a flat-screen TV from Socket - during an interview Friday night. For Battles, it was hard to put her appreciation into words.
"There's a lot of angels around here," Battles said. "A whole lot of angels."
For anyone wishing to donate items to the family, call Battles' cellphone at 573-544-8375.