"They were inseparable:" Balloons released in remembrance of two killed in fire

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- "His last words were, 'Find Rayveon. Where's Rayveon?' Those were Gary's last words."

67-year-old Gary Pitts and 4-year-old Rayveon Cunningham are both gone, but not forgotten. Balloons were released for the child and grandfather on Thursday outside the house where they lived. Both perished in a fire the day before.

"He was my backbone, he was there when I needed anything... he put everybody before hisself," said Tinna Clark, Gary's grandaughter.

Gary Pitts was a veteran who helped care for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

4-year-old Rayveon Cunningham's smile lit up the room.

"That was my baby. I mean, he was so happy. He had his moments, but who doesn't. That was a piece of me and that was snatched away from me," said Clark.

Through all the pain, she is glad her son and his great-grandfather still have each other.

"You have one, you have the other. It was a package deal. They were inseperaable. I'm glad they're up there together in heaven," said Clark.

"[My dad] didn't want me to find out when I was in school He wanted me to find out in person, and he took me home and he told me my cousin and Gary had died in a fire.

I instantly started crying because that was my cousin, and it hurts me that he's gone now," said Jovon Clark, Rayveon's cousin.

Even when the pain still burns, through the ashes, the family is dwelling on good memories.

"They're in a better place now and they don't have to deal with the horrible world anymore," said Jovon Clark.

Rayveon leaves behind five other siblings. There's a GoFundMe page set up for funeral expenses, and for the family to rebuild their life.