Brownwood Bands Together for Fan's Family

Dozens of people in Shannon Stone's hometown of Brownwood banded together immediately after hearing the news of Stone's death.

They organized a cookout fundraiser for the family Stone left behind. The Brownwood fire lieutenant was a firefighter in the city for 17 years.

"Him and I walked into fires together, walked out, did our job, was a wonderful person," said Jason Person, Stone's friend and former Brownwood firefighter.

Stone made a career out of fighting fires from Station No. 2, but his heart belonged to his wife, Jenny, and their 6-year-old son, Cooper.

"He was a great man. He'd bring Cooper over here [to City Hall] on his days off," said Bobby Rountree, city manager.

Flags in Brownwood are lowered to half staff. Fellow firefighters have set up a memorial outside the Central Fire Station. Stone was twice voted firefighter of the year and won a distinguished service medal for rescuing a woman from a burning building. He even responded in the aftermath of 9/11 in New York.

"Someone who went out there everyday and put his life on the line for others. I suppose there's some irony there, which makes it difficult to accept. He did have such a dangerous job. To have lost his life in an event of this nature is difficult," said Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes.

Cleburne Mourns Fan

Stone grew up in Cleburne, the city where his parents still live.

Across the street from his parents' home, flags fly in his memory.

"He turned out to be quite the young man and a great husband and a great dad," said Reba Henry, who babysat Stone.

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As a teenager, Stone often hung around the local fire station.

"I think Shannon always had a desire to become a firefighter," Cleburne Fire Chief Clint Ishmael said.

"It's just a very somber mood," he said. "Like I say, for those of us and people who have known Shannon, it's very sad. It's very sad for the family, for his wife and his son that's left behind ... and we know that's going to be difficult for them to deal with."

NBC DFW's Kevin Cokely contributed to this report.

Memorial Donations:

The Texas Rangers Foundation is setting up a memorial fund and will make a substantial, but undisclosed, donation for the family. Fans who want to contribute to the fund can do so at kiosks at the Ballpark or on the Texas Rangers website.

Memorial funds have also been set through the following organizations:

Brownwood Chamber of Commerce
Find out more about the Shannon Stone Memorial Fund at www.brownwoodchamber.org/stone/

Bank of America
C/O Shannon Stone Memorial Fund
Account number: 488033378318

Brownwood Fire Department
C/O Shannon Stone Memorial Fund
809 Main Street
Brownwood, TX 76801

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