COLUMBIA, Mo. — Donnie Bittle has been identified as the second victim who died in a devastating fire that tore through an independent supported living facility in Fayette on Tuesday morning, authorities and family members confirmed. 
The blaze, which erupted at a facility behind the Perkins Residential Care Center on Villers Drive, claimed the lives of three people. Earlier in the day, family members had already confirmed the identity of 63-year-old Marcia Lyon, who worked at the facility. 
Bittle’s niece, Kayla More, provided a heartfelt tribute to her uncle, describing him as someone “full of life and laughter” who loved fishing, enjoyed being around people and had once served on a fire department — an experience he cherished dearly. “He had a laugh and smile that was contagious. He will be truly missed,” she said in a statement. 
Officials with the Missouri Department of Public Safety say the cause of the fire has not yet been determined due to the extent of the damage and that fire investigators are continuing their review. 
Emergency crews were called to the scene early Tuesday, and the building was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. The fire took hours to bring under control and left the facility in ruins. 
Investigators are still working to identify the third victim and are urging anyone with information related to the fire to contact local authorities. 
Background: Three people died in the fire at the independent supported living home. Marcia Lyon was confirmed by her family hours after the incident, and now Donnie Bittle’s identity has also been publicly released. 
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