Former US Marine Killed In Rafting Accident Honored By Children

CALIFORNIA — Mary Marshall was not just a mom, friend, sister and daughter. The 63-year-old Menifee woman was also a former U.S. Marine with 20 years of service and a fierce protector to everyone who knew her, according to her daughter, Leah Marshall.

Sadly, Leah and her brother are now making final plans for their mother, who died over the weekend in a rafting accident alongside her service dog, Suki.

"Our mom was taken from us far too soon in a heartbreaking river accident that has left our family devastated," Leah wrote on a GoFundMe that was launched to help cover expenses tied to her mother's final arrangements.

"Our mom dedicated her life to caring for others, and now we want to honor her in the way she deserves," Leah continued. "Mary was a single mom who raised us with love, strength, and determination. Now it’s our turn to give her the respectful farewell she so deeply deserves."

As of Wednesday afternoon, the GoFundMe had raised more than $11,000.

Over the weekend, Mary was floating down Kings River in Fresno County. She was with dozens of friends who brought rafts for their annual float.

Mary had her large German shepherd, Suki, with her. The canine was tethered to its owner via a leash, but neither was wearing a life jacket, according to a report from the Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

At about 3:30 p.m. Aug. 17, the raft carrying Mary and Suki got into trouble on the river near S. Rio Vista and E. Vino Avenues in Reedley, the sheriff's office said. Mary's raft was tied to another raft when both vessels veered into a tree along the river and got stuck.

Amid the commotion, Suki jumped off Mary's raft, causing it to flip over.

With Mary and the dog still attached by the leash, both were out of the raft and got caught in turbulent water. The leash became wrapped around an underwater tree, causing Mary and Suki to become submerged, the sheriff's office reported.

The two never resurfaced.

Fresno County deputies with the agency's Boating Enforcement Unit searched for the pair for more than two hours before finding them tangled underwater. The dog's leash was cut, which allowed rescuers to recover the bodies, according to the sheriff's office.

In the GoFundMe post, Leah wrote a list of six things that donations will help pay for, including transporting the bodies of her mother and Suki to military officials for a "proper farewell."

Leah also wants to create a lasting memorial at the campsite near Mary's place of death to honor her mother and remind others of the importance of water safety.

It's a message, Leah says, that could potentially save lives.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office issued a warning for those who want to enjoy the Kings River via raft.

Never tie the rafts, tubes, or other vessels together, the agency said.

"This creates a dangerous situation because if one floater experiences a problem, all others will as well because they do not have independent control of their rafts," according to the sheriff's office.

Additional safety measures offered by the sheriff's office include:

1) Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Make sure it is secured and fits the person properly. Consider putting a pet life jacket on dogs as well.
2) Stay out of the water if you are not an experienced swimmer.
3) Parents should watch their children at all times.
4) Do not mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol causes swimmers to fatigue faster than normal and can create dangerous situations.
5) Understand that when it’s hot outside, you will get tired faster than usual.
6) Respect the water. The temperature of the water remains cold and the current is often stronger than it appears. There can be debris in the water, which is difficult to see and may cause hazardous situations for swimmers.
7) Be careful of the mud on the bottom of lakes and rivers; it’s easy to sink in some spots and get your feet stuck. Also, use your feet to feel for drop-off spots. River and lake bottoms can dramatically change from shallow to deep in a short distance.