SALISBURY — One day after a fire on Mahaley Road left a former Marine and his dog dead, his neighbors and friends spoke about how much he meant to the community.

The fire occurred around 4:30 a.m. in the 900 block of Mahaley Road. Firefighters immediately found heavy smoke coming from a single-wide mobile home and began to combat the fire, according to Rowan County Fire Division Chief Deborah Horne. While working their way inside of the home, fire crews found a man and his dog dead.

Angie Spillman, who owns the property next door, said that the man who lived in the property was Rexx Shelton, a former Marine who, along with his pit bull Sgt. Shane was a common sight at events aimed at veterans.

“He was different. He was very excited to share his love of the military with everybody wherever he went. I think that was part of his parade that he took on that motorcycle with Sgt. Shane. He was the crowd pleaser everywhere he went. To do that, you have to want to make people happy,” said Spillman.

Shelton owned a green side-car motorcycle outfitted with Marine emblems that was seen at almost every veterans organization’s events he could make it to. Located in that side car was Sgt. Shane himself, often outfitted with a dog-sized safety vest and goggles to keep him safe and secure. 

“He’s a Vietnam vet, he worked hard to keep up the memory of the corps. He drove around with his corps gear on, his motorcycle had a paint job showing the military and he always carried his fur companion around, Shane,” said Spillman.

Scott Sifford, another neighbor, said that Shelton would often allow Sifford’s son to ride on the horses he raised on the property.

“This was years ago, my son’s 35 now and this was back when he was still living at home. He would go pick out a horse and him and Rex would go to some wagon trains. He’d just put a couple of horses in the trailer and do some wagon training,” said Sifford.

Sifford spoke about the neighborhood cook-outs Shelton would host at the home. Shelton would grill up as much food as he could, bring a live band out and then invite everyone who lived in the area and his friends to come to the party. 

Sifford also said that when he used to play shows with his former band, Shelton would make sure to come to as many shows as he could in support. Shelton was also a common sight on the dance floor at Shoaf’s Wagon Wheel, a dance venue on Highway 601.

“He would tear that dance floor up,” Sifford remembered.

Spillman said that her sons and daughter noticed the fire while they were taking the dogs out for a walk around three in the morning. Sifford said that his wife was woken by three loud bangs that could have possibly been propane tanks exploding. Both Spillman and Sifford said that by the time their families noticed the fire, the home was engulfed in flames.

A release from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said that deputies were notified of the death and are investigating the fire and the circumstances surrounding it. Agents from the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the sheriff’s office’s investigation. The cause of the fire has not been released.

Spillman said that her dog recently had a litter of puppies with Shane. Most of the litter had been adopted out to other families, but two puppies still remain in her family’s home.

“We kept two of her puppies which we were going to adopt out but we’re not going to now. We’re going to keep them with us since Shane isn’t with us anymore,” said Spillman.