GRANBY — The elderly couple that lost their lives to the East Troublesome fire refused to leave the home they loved.

The bodies of Lyle Hileman, 86, and his wife Marilyn, 84, were found Friday afternoon in the ruins of their home, said Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin.

As the couple’s children mourned their parents, they said in a statement they were comforted knowing they were together until the end.

“At 86 and 84 years of age their only desire was to be together in the home they loved,” the family said in a statement that Schroetlin read aloud late Friday in a video posted on Facebook.

“Our family feels comfort in the knowledge our parents left this world together and on their own terms.”

On Wednesday evening, despite a mandatory evacuation order, the Hilemans “refused to evacuate.” They wanted to remain with the home they loved.

That night, their friend Richard Klein, along with first responders, drove past several roadblocks in an attempt to evacuate the Hilemans, but all their pleas were refused, said Schroetlin.

The couple phoned their son, Glenn, and reported the flames they could see in the fields, barns and adjacent houses; they said they were in the basement and “would not leave.”

Marilyn Hileman told Glenn they could smell smoke. The couple asked Glenn to inform the rest of their children about the situation.

After calling each of his siblings, Glenn attempted to contact his parents again. These attempts were unsuccessful. The last known contact with the Hilemans was Wednesday night.

Fire officials were made aware of the elderly couple’s situation, but because of the fire activity, they did not determine the status of the house until Thursday, Schroetlin said.

As of late Friday there are no missing people associated with the East Troublesome fire, Schroetlin said.

“Grand County will remain strong,” Schroetlin said.