Family Remembers Children, Grandparents Believed Killed in Fire

The big sister Charlotte was a gamer who loved making videos with her pet guinea pig, Oreo. The 8-year-old dreamed of running an animal rescue group. Her 6-year-old brother Wes liked trips to the beach and wanted to build robots one day.

Their cousins, blue-eyed, towheaded sisters, were a year apart but looked more like twins. Eight-year-old Lexi played field hockey and lacrosse; she wanted to be a veterinarian when she grew up. Her little sister Katie, age 7, loved to sing Taylor Swift songs.

• “Charlotte loved her family, horses, basketball, and swimming. Her friends from school held a special place in her heart. She had many wonderful adventures with her family. She was fun-loving, intelligent, and kind. She wanted to be known as a gamer with an epic love of Minecraft. Charlotte loved making videos with her guinea pig, Oreo. Charlotte’s future dreams were to run an animal rescue.” -- Boone, Pyle Families

All four are now believed to be dead.

Their parents think the children, along with their grandparents, Don and Sandy Pyle, were in a mansion near Annapolis when a massive fire turned the home into a pile of ashes Monday. Crews have found five bodies in the rubble and were still searching for another one Friday. 

• “Wes loved his friends and family, Doctor Who, Legos, Minecraft, Plants vs Zombies, and swimming. Wes was sweet and loving and looked up to his older sister immensely. He loved all his friends and he especially looked forward to seeing his classmates at school every day. He loved trips to the beach with his family. In his future, Wes wanted to build robots.” -- Boone, Pyle Families

Though the official identities of the bodies were pending autopsies, the family is mourning.

Charlotte and Wes were the only children of Clint Boone, 37, and ex-wife Eve Morrison, 39.

• “Lexi loved her sister and new baby brother, her friends from school, field hockey, lacrosse, and ice skating. She was thoughtful, social, smart, and determined. She loved her dog Sophie. Her favorite adventures included trips with her parents, grandparents, and cousins. Lexi wanted to be a vet or on television when she grew up. She was going to be famous.” -- Boone, Pyle Families

The other parents, Randy Boone, 38, and Stacey Boone, 34, lost their two daughters, but still have a baby boy. The three-week-old baby wasn't in the home at the time of the fire, which destroyed the 16,000-square-foot waterfront mansion known in the family and the neighborhood as "the castle."

The fire's cause is under investigation.

• “Katie loved her family more than anything, especially her new brother. She was kind, compassionate, and loving. She enjoyed soccer, gymnastics, ice skating, and singing Taylor Swift songs. Katie's most recent adventures included her birthday party at the castle with the Raven's Cheerleaders and a trip to New York City. For only having just turned 7, she was loving and thoughtful beyond her years.” -- Boone, Pyle Families

Toni Aluisi, a family friend who lives in Washington, D.C., said that the night before the fire, Don and Sandy Pyle took the four grandchildren to dinner at Medieval Times after getting them costumes at Target. 

"This family is incredibly close, the grandparents -- everybody -- was active in the schools with the children, with social life, sports, everything," Aluisi said.

• “Don loved his family, especially the grandchildren, more than anything in the world. They called him “Pop-Pop.” He treated each friend as a special member of his family. He established long term friendships from high school through his business career. Don loved the Ravens, Orioles, and Delaware Blue Hens Lacrosse. His hobbies included fishing, golf, skiing, and entertaining family and friends. Don also cherished traveling with his wife.” -- Boone, Pyle Families

Family members said Don Pyle, 56, was an avid fisherman who loved his family, especially the grandchildren, more than anything. He enjoyed traveling with his wife Sandy, 63. The two shared a love of the Ravens and Orioles.

Co-workers said Don Pyle was known for an "incredible track record in the tech industry." Pyle had served as the Chief Operating Officer of ScienceLogic since September 2014. "Don possessed a special leadership quality that lifted others to seek accomplishments beyond what they originally thought possible," ScienceLogic CEO David Link said in a statement.

"Our lives are all richer on account of having known and worked with him," he said

• “Sandy loved her family and had a special place in her heart for each grandchild. She was known to them as “Dee-Dee.” She was extremely loyal to her friends, who were like her extended family. Her passions were numerous and included the Ravens, Orioles, the beach, and traveling. She was a one-of-a-kind original -- fun-loving, caring, and generous. She loved every animal, especially her rescue dogs, and contributed to numerous animal welfare groups. Sandy was incredibly sensitive to the needs of others and generous beyond words.” -- Boone, Pyle Families.