BEAUMONT, Texas — Friends of a Southeast Texas man who ran into a burning home in October in an attempt to save his elderly mother are gathering Friday to honor and support him with a benefit.
Rob Flurry, 61, was staying with and caring for his mom, Joann Shipman, 81, at their family home in Dayton when it burned to the ground in early October.
Flurry was severely burned trying to save his mom, who died nearly a week later. He and his family lost everything in the fire including two family dogs.
Now, Alicia Huber and other family friends are holding a benefit that includes a car and motorcycle show as well as live music and more on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, at the Logon Cafe in Beaumont.
Flurry was a regular at the Beaumont bar before he moved to Dayton several years ago to care for his mom. He could regularly be found on the stage three singing on karaoke nights.
The benefit begins at 4 p.m. in the parking lot of the Logon Cafe with the car and motorcycle show and continues through the night with live music from several Southeast Texas musician friends of Flurry.
Performers include The Ramblin' Boys, Ole Lonesome, Barelands, Ladies of Mad Maude and Cody Schaeffer.
The event will also include karaoke, raffles and a silent auction to support Flurry.
Admission to the benefit is $5 but you can check out the car and motorcycle show for free. Karaoke starts at 11 p.m.
You can also donate to a GoFundMe set up to help Flurry and his family.
Flurry's son, Terry Flurry, called his dad a hero as he described the night of the fire to 12News in October.
Firefighters tried to restrain Flurry but he ran into the blazing house more than once in an effort to save his mom, throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her out of the fire according to his son, Terry.
"He went back into the building multiple times, disregarding and pushing through the EMS," Terry Flurry told 12News in October.
Huber, who's been Rob Flurry's friend for 15 years, tells 12News that anybody who knows him wouldn't be "surprised at all."
"He would have done it probably for anybody," she said.
Sadly, Shipman died in a Houston hospital almost a week later while Flurry was recovering in a Houston hospital.
"The last time he went in to get her out, he probably just grabbed her and whatever was still burning on her, so if it was blanket or clothes or what, I don't know. Probably grabbed her, threw her over his shoulder, and got her out of there," Terry told 12News previously.
Rob Flurry is completing his recovery in Houston.
"I'm getting close to finishing out here," he said. "I've gone through a lot of physical therapy and speech therapy, and they're pleased with my progress."
He's trying to remain as optimistic as possible.
"Following through with physical therapy and the things that I need to do to to get back into the shape I was in before," Rob Flurry said.
Rob Flurry says nothing will stop him from attending his benefit Friday.
"It'll be the very first time I've been back in town, actually for a couple of years," he said.
He's ready to enjoy some time with close friends and the community, who consider him a hero.
"I'm so grateful for everything that everyone's done and I'm so happy that I'm going to get to see everybody and get to be apart of the community again," he said.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.