EULESS — The post office in Euless is still reeling from the mysterious deaths of two Postal Service employees last weekend.

Adrian Johnson and Mike McCormack were best friends who delivered the mail in Euless longer than just about anyone: Johnson for 33 years, McCormack for 34.

The two men were found dead early Sunday morning in a burned-down outbuilding in Jones County near Abilene.

They had been enjoying a rugged piece of paradise where McCormack planned to build his dream home after he retired next month.

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The two men were found dead in a charred cabin in Jones County.

"It doesn't make sense," said Sharolyn Ervin, one of McCormack's daughters. "He was very smart."

Ervin and Shanna McCormack said their father was an Eagle Scout, religiously careful with fire. His cabin had no electricity or gas.

But they said questions about his death are less important than lessons in his life. "He was delivering Meals on Wheels out there, taking books to the library, trying to help the community," Shanna McCormack said.

Mike McCormack adopted the identical twins as babies. "Not a bad memory about him," Sharolyn said, especially about his beard. "He's only cut his beard twice that we know of, and that was for my aunt's wedding and his dad's funeral."

His looks earned him the nickname "Wild Man McCormack."

Customers on his route gave him the highest praise a letter carrier can get: He was always friendly, dependable and smiling.

Mike McCormack's daughters said their dad delivered more than mail. Sometimes, people in need on his route might find a sack of groceries or school supplies on their doorstep, with no clue where they came from.

Colleagues of Adrian Johnson and Mike McCormack still make their rounds as usual, delivering the mail, but they're hanging onto the loss. One said it would take him a "long time to get over it."

E-mail jdouglas@wfaa.com