NICEVILLE, Fla.—In a single fiery night, the lives of a beloved Niceville couple with disabilities were forever changed. Their uninsured mobile home burned beyond repair, leaving them severely injured and putting their small engine repair shop—their livelihood—at risk.
Despite the devastation, Michael and Marie Maher are determined to rebuild. They dream of returning to the property they have rented for years and reviving their business. But the cost, coupled with their injuries and long-term disabilities, threatens to crush that dream.
“Every day, I wonder when this nightmare will end,” Marie shared. “It’s been bad; it’s been really bad.”
Lawnmower Mike and Superhero Marie
Michael “Lawnmower Mike” Maher, a local legend known for his honest smile and top-notch small engine repair skills, has spent over two decades fixing the community’s lawnmowers. Marie, with her can-do attitude, was at the heart of their humble operation.
Life hasn’t always been kind to the Mahers.
In recent years, Mike’s knees barely held him, and a battle with lung cancer left its mark. Marie’s back, twisted by severe scoliosis, aches with every step.
Yet they have persevered, thanks to hard work and an unyielding spirit.
Then tragedy struck. On the night of October 1, 2023, a fire roared through their two-bedroom mobile home, the culmination of what felt like endless misfortune.
Mike, bedridden after a recent knee surgery, was trapped inside as flames consumed the room around him. With her husband’s life in peril—and no one else to help—Marie became an instant superhero.
The Fire
On the night of the fire, the Mahers dined on a meal friends gave them. Mike had knee replacement surgery just weeks before, which led to complications, leaving the 68-year-old with a cement spacer in his knee and unable to walk.
Shortly thereafter, Marie underwent surgery for rapid-onset scoliosis, a degenerative spine issue that left the 52-year-old bent over and her back twisted.
After dinner that fateful evening, Marie left to return the dishes, grateful for her friends’ support. A short time later, she returned to her Tomahawk Street home to find it engulfed in flames.
“The house was on fire, my husband was on fire, and there were four-foot-high flames between the front door and his bedroom,” recalled Marie.
Without hesitation, Marie ran inside the burning home only to find herself blocked from getting to Mike by his electric scooter, which had a dead battery. She quickly pushed it over on its side and leaped over the disabled scooter to reach her trapped husband.
With smoke blinding her and making it difficult to breathe, Marie smashed a window to let in fresh air and clear the smoke, never allowing her injured body to slow her down.
“I couldn’t breathe, and I couldn’t see anything, so I busted the window open with my hand. I just needed to get a little bit of air.”
Ignoring the pain from her recent back surgery, Marie found the impossible strength to pull Mike from the inferno, dragging him to safety as the walls burned around them.
“It was the most horrific thing I’ve ever experienced in my life—pulling my husband out of our burning home with almost his whole body on fire.”
Marie pulled her husband out of the home, about three feet down its handicap ramp, and then passed out.
Seeing the fire, neighbors called 911 and came to the Mahers’ aid, helping them get a safe distance away from the burning home.
Firefighters with Walton County Fire-Rescue and North Bay Fire Control District soon arrived to extinguish the blaze—caused by an electrical issue—but not before it left the home unlivable and beyond repair.
Scars from the fire will forever mark the Mahers’ escape. Mike suffered from burns across 40 percent of his body, and Marie had burns on 17 percent of her body, mostly her back.
Marie’s heroic actions fractured her spine and displaced a metal rod and screws that had been implanted during her recent surgical procedure.
After escaping from the burning home, Mike and Marie were transported to HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville, then transferred to the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center before being airlifted to the University of Alabama Burn Clinic at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Hospital.
Unbroken Spirit
Mike underwent rehabilitation and physical therapy after four months of recovering at UAB. However, due to complications from his burns, he has undergone additional surgeries, including a procedure last week to remove a part of one of his feet.
Marie, injured from rescuing Mike, is awaiting surgery on her back.
The small engine repair shop, on the same lot as the mobile home that burned, now sits idle while the Mahers stay in a rented bedroom in Niceville.
In the aftermath of the fire, donations poured in—over $10,000—a testament to the lives Mike and Marie touched. Yet, the road ahead is long and costly.
Despite everything, they refuse to surrender, and their spirit remains unbroken.
“We just want to get back on our property and do what we love,” said Marie, her voice hoarse but determined. “We’ve been going through a nightmare but haven’t given up yet.”
Strong Work Ethics and Character
Michael and Marie Maher have always shown strong work ethics despite their disabilities.
Mike operated his small engine repair shop, rarely missing a day of work. He was proud to provide his customers with good service and be there for them when they needed his help.
“He’s the best guy ever,” Marie offered. “He has a good heart, and he’s always done good for people.”
Mike’s shop is adjacent to where their mobile home stood, at the foot of the home’s handicap ramp. The shop is well-suited for Mike’s physical limitations, and with Marie’s assistance, he could do the repair work while seated.
From 2014 to 2021, Marie managed the gas station/convenience store on State Road 20 in Choctaw Beach, across from the fire department. However, due to her increasingly limited abilities, she was forced to give up her full-time job.
She continued to help Mike at his shop and do household chores for others in the community to make ends meet.
Kathy Bush, a retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, said that Marie started working for her as a housekeeper in 2019. She was impressed with Marie’s thoroughness and dedication to her work.
“She went above and beyond—did more than anyone would expect.”
Mrs Bush described Marie as having a “little black cloud” hanging over her and facing a string of misfortunes that no one in her position could deal with alone. In her view, Marie and Mike have the “highest character” and deserve all the assistance they can get.
“Both are extremely well-intentioned and badly need help, she said. “They are doing everything imaginable to solve their problems, but that black cloud just won’t quit!”
How to Help Mike and Marie
There are several ways to help the Mahers:
Donate: Every contribution, big or small, will bring them closer to a new home. To support Michael and Marie Maher on their journey to recovery, visit their GoFundMe page.
Spread the Word: Share their story with your friends and family. The power of community can make a world of difference.
Mobile Home Leads: If you know of an affordable, used mobile home, contact Marie at 850-373-3088.
Mike and Marie’s journey to recovery has been long and difficult. Despite the challenges, Marie said their spirit remains unbroken.
“We’re taking one day at a time and never forgetting the blessings we do have.”
