Woman dies in house fire

Southern View police officer Jason Banister was getting ready to leave town early Tuesday when he heard a loud popping noise to the west. When he looked to check out the noise, he realized the rear of a nearby home at 3137 S. Second St. was engulfed in flames.

"When he saw the flames, he ran through the yard and jumped the fence," said Southern View Police Chief Kurt Taraba. "He was only able to get a few feet inside (the burning house.) He found the person lying on the floor, removed her from the residence and started life-saving procedures."

Despite the best efforts of Banister and other rescuers, Victoria McCrory, 56, who lived in the house, did not survive. She was pronounced dead at Memorial Medical Center about 4:30 a.m. McCrory died of smoke inhalation, Sangamon County Coroner Susan Boone said.

McCrory, who worked as a nurse at St. John's Hospital's birth center, was described as a very caring person who had distinctive red hair and a "beautiful smile." "She had a great spirit of giving for her patients and others," said Lori Bobell, nurse manager for the birth center. "She did a lot of volunteer work with us and her church. She had a lot of friends and was always interested in people's lives."

Investigators from the Springfield Fire Department still were at the house Tuesday afternoon trying to determine how the fire started. It apparently began in the kitchen near the stove or the microwave oven. The flames then spread upstairs into the finished attic and did significant damage to the roof.

"The investigators are still on the scene trying to pinpoint where it started. A determination has not been finalized," Division Chief Bob Reside, spokesman for the Springfield Fire Department, said Tuesday afternoon. Reside said foul play is not suspected.

Linda Jones, who lived next door to McCrory, was awakened by the sound of the two Southern View officers forcing their way inside the burning house.

Jones said McCrory lived in the house for several years. She described her as a "credit to the community." "She kept her yard immaculate. She was a quiet person," Jones said.

State Journal-Register, The (Springfield, IL) - Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Victoria J. McCrory, 56, of Springfield, formerly of Olney, died at 4:33 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at Memorial Medical Center.  Victoria died of smoke inhalation as the result of a house fire.

She was born May 24, 1952, in Lawrence County, the daughter of Harry P. and Delores Leib Truitt. She was preceded in death by her parents.

She had been a registered nurse at St. John's Birth Center since Aug. 5, 1991. She was an active member of Calvary Temple Christian Center and was active in the choir. She loved gardening, cooking, baking, skiing, traveling and loved the Lord and her job. She was a good friend to many.

Surviving are her sister, Misty (husband, Jay) Veltman of East Peoria; four brothers, Harry Truitt and Jim (wife, Christine) Truitt, both of Olney, Ted (wife, Glenda) Truitt of Indianapolis and Tim (wife, Debra) Truitt of Olney; several aunts, uncles and cousins; and several nieces and nephews, Tyler and Sydney Veltman, William, Samantha and Todd Truitt, Erin Ginder and Ryan and Rachel Alvord.

Services at Calvary Temple Christian Center with the Rev. Mark Johnson.

Published in State Journal-Register, The (Springfield, IL) - Thursday, March 19, 2009