In the days after the death of her friend, Daulton Simmers, Kimi Maberry had one primary motivator for getting through her days: helping out.

After her initial shock at hearing that Simmers – known as “DT” by friends and family – had been killed in a fire at Caterpillar’s Mapleton Foundry on June 6, she got down to business on trying to provide whatever relief she could to a family that she had remarkable closeness to.

“(My fiancee’s) sister is with DT’s uncle,” Maberry said. “DT’s uncle’s mom raised him from when he was a baby because his dad died and his mom wasn’t there. They’re actually uncle and nephew, but they grew up as brothers. (I’m) extended family, I guess you could say.”

She started a GoFundMe page to help out and got strong backing from the community in just a short time. As of June 27, the fundraiser has garnered $9,880 for funeral expenses and support for Simmers’ fiance, Linsey Downing, and his two children.

All of that is in support of someone who Maberry praised for his “family-oriented” nature.

“He was a great person,” Maberry said. “He never thought of (just) himself. He was a great dad, he always had his son with him. He loved fishing (and) camping.”

From shock to awe

When Maberry first heard about the incident that ended up leading to Simmers’ death at his workplace, she didn’t know that it was him until she heard from her mother that he was involved.

“I told my fiance, ‘They’re saying that’s DT,'” Maberry said. “I called John, his uncle, and they weren’t sure that it was him because they hadn’t identified him, but they were 99% sure that was him because he was the only one that wasn’t accounted for.”

She fell into a state of shock and disbelief that it could happen to someone she was so close to. But from that shock came an overwhelming amount of support from members of the community and local businesses like Papa Murphy’s.

West Peoria man identified as person killed in Caterpillar foundry fire in Mapleton

She didn’t expect to see so many people come together to help her, her friends and her family get through the most trying time of their lives.

“I didn’t expect people to donate that much,” Maberry said. “It’s crazy, and we’re so thankful. I was just in help mode for them. I wasn’t as close with DT, but we still considered each other family, so I knew that his immediate family was hurting and not able to think straight.”

Maberry said that Caterpillar provided money for cremation services, providing Schmidt-Haller Burial and Cremation Services a check for up to $8,000 on the kinds of services the family needed, such as an urn, the process of cremation itself and holders for the ashes in the urn.

Simmers’ obituary described him as someone who loved hiking in addition to his fishing exploits and camping enjoyment. He was praised for having the ability to bring people together by his very presence.

“His warm presence and genuine kindness touched the lives of all who knew him,” the obituary said. “He will be remembered for his laughter, his generosity, and his ability to bring people together. His departure leaves a void in the hearts of many, but his spirit will continue to inspire and guide those who were fortunate enough to have known him.”

Three deaths in three years: A timeline of incidents at Caterpillar’s Mapleton foundry

What happened that day

According to Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins, Simmers had been trying to transfer molten metal from a large furnace into a smaller pot. However, while he tried to do that, the metal spilled out and engulfed him in fire and molten metal.

Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said that Simmers likely died instantly as a result of the blaze, with severe thermal burns throughout his body.

Simmers’ death became the third in as many years at the Mapleton foundry 14 miles southwest of Peoria. In December 2021, Scott Adams, a East Peoria man, was killed when he fell more than 20 feet into a hole in the floor. Adams was not a Caterpillar employee, but the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined a pair of contractors for safety violations.

Seven months later, 39-year-old Steven Dierkes died after falling into molten iron at the facility. Dierkes was employed with Caterpillar, and the company received a $145,000 fine from OSHA for failing to enact proper safety measures leading up to his death.

OSHA is now investigating the circumstances behind Simmers’ death, with Caterpillar saying in a statement that it would cooperate fully with any investigation.

Maberry said that Simmers had only been on the job for two weeks when the incident occurred.

“That was his first day on that department of pouring,” Maberry said. “I don’t think he should have been left alone there.”

More: After tragic wreck in Peoria, Dunlap teenager remembered as ‘beautiful soul’

Moving forward, looking back

Even as Maberry tries to look forward, it can be difficult for her not to look back and think about the sort of person Simmers was. She looks at him as the consummate good guy, someone focused on family more so than just his career, one who took the Caterpillar job as a way to help his family.

Maberry said that Simmers had just finished on closing a house for him and his kids. Now, the focus turns to trying to ensure that no incidents like what happened to Simmers, Dierkes and Adams ever happen again.

“I think Caterpillar is still investigating,” Maberry said. “I do know that the family wants to make sure this never happens again to anyone. Caterpillar needs to step up their safety measures on this type of stuff, so I think that is the next step.”

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: West Peoria man’s death at Caterpillar foundry leaves void for family