LAKE MILTON — The Mahoning County Coroner’s Office has identified the couple who died in an early Saturday house fire on Roselawn Street as Kaye, 85, and Murle McLaughlin, 94.

Autopsies will be performed at the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s office. The fire remains under investigation by the Milton Township Fire Department and coroner’s office.

Crews found the single story home engulfed in flames when they arrived. The fire was reported at 3:25 a.m.

Flames were coming from three sides of the house and the roof, Milton Township fire Chief Harold Maynard said.

A relative of the couple arrived at the scene shortly after the fire department. At that time, firefighters learned the couple still might be inside.

Maynard and other firefighters tried to enter the house, but the flames were too hot and too involved to gain access, Maynard said.

The couple was profiled in 2009 in The Vindicator for, at that time, 54 years of civic involvement.

The McLaughlins were honored by then-Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and first lady Frances Strickland with the Joined Hearts in Giving Couples Award in 2008. Joined Hearts honors Ohioans married 40 years or longer who are at least 60 years old and who share a commitment to volunteerism.

The couple first met in 1950 when, at that time, he was Kay’s brother’s Scout Master. Murle served in the Boy Scouts for a total of 50 years.

Both were active with the Craig Beach Fire Department and the Ohio State Park, where he taught living history and she served lunches on clean-up and school days.

In 1947 Murle founded and stayed active with American Legion Post 737, where Kay was, at the time of the 2009 article, an auxiliary member for 52 years.

A retiree of Jackson-Milton middle and elementary schools, Murle worked in building maintenance.

The couple was active with the Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years. The McLaughlins also volunteered at the VA Clinic.

Having been a photographer for 63 years, Murle founded the Lake Milton Historical Society.

Murle has served on the township Zoning Board of Appeals, and the couple had served many other organizations throughout the years.

news@tribtoday.com