Fatal Okmulgee County house fire

A house fire kills an Okmulgee County father and his son and a mother and son were sent to the hospital. <br/><br/>The fire broke out early Tuesday morning in Liberty. Residents of the town are still

Tuesday, April 18th 2006, 7:30 am

By: News On 6

A house fire kills an Okmulgee County father and his son and a mother and son were sent to the hospital.

The fire broke out early Tuesday morning in Liberty. Residents of the town are still in shock after what happened.

A man driving to work saw the flames Tuesday morning and knocked on the family's door until he got a response.

Joy Rowen and her 3 year old son Alex managed to escape. Joy's husband went back inside the home to find the couple's son, but Payne Rowen and 8 year old Nickolas[pictured] never made it out. By the time fire crews arrived, it was too late.

Word spread quickly about the devastating fire and residents set up a makeshift memorial by what was left of the home.

Family members remember Nickolas as a bright, smiling little boy. Karen Galloway: "he loved reading, he loved school, and he loved people. He was friendly and he loved everybody. That's why it's hard to see that he's gone."

Joy and Alex are in intensive care at a Tulsa hospital. Doctor's say they'll stay there for several more days.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.