Authorities are continuing to investigate what caused a fire that claimed the life of Shawtown woman last week.
Mary Lou Eason, 73, was found dead July 30 in a fire at her home on North Shawtown Road near Hornbeak.
Her funeral was held graveside Saturday at An-tioch Cemetery in Horn-beak.
The fire is being investigated by the Obion County Sheriff’s Department and state fire investigators, which is routine procedure since a death was involved.
Obion County Sheriff Jerry Vastbinder said Ms. Eason’s body was sent for autopsy and authorities are still waiting on some various test results from the crime lab. He said there are no signs of foul play at this time, but evidence is still being processed.
Vastbinder said the fire at Ms. Eason’s home was small and the biggest challenge right now is trying to determine exactly what caused it.
Hornbeak Fire Chief Bob Reavis told The Messenger last week the fire was reported at 9:22 a.m. July 30 at Ms. Eason’s residence on North Shawtown Road, about 21⁄2 miles outside Hornbeak.
Firefighters from the Hornbeak Volunteer Fire Department responded and found smoke showing in the front of the house. The neighboring Troy Volunteer Fire Department and some personnel from Samburg-Reelfoot Volunteer Fire Department also responded.
A bystander told firefighters there was a victim at the back door, according to Reavis, who said fire personnel immediately grabbed their medical gear and went to the back of the house. There, they found the occupant was deceased.
Reavis said firefighters began their firefighting efforts and contained the fire to the kitchen area of the house. They went through the home and did a complete search, determining no one else was inside.

Published in The Messenger 8.9.12