Effingham—January 11, 2024—N.H. Fish & Game today released details about the Ossipee Lake resident who was found dead in a kayak on January 4 on Berry Bay near land owned by Camp Marist.
The deceased was identified as Alys Walker, 78, of 16 Channel Road in Ossipee.
Officials said it appeared that Walker was attempting to retrieve a small boat that floated away from her dock in high water on December 19. She reported the loss in a Facebook post and asked for help in finding it.
A Berry Bay couple discovered a boat adrift between Berry Bay and Leavitt Bay on December 31. They secured it to a tree in the channel, and posted a picture of it on Facebook, saying they would walk it to their house for pick up if the owner could be found.
A failed attempt to recover this lost boat led to the death of an elderly lake resident last week. Source: Facebook
Friends of Walker’s recognized the boat and made the connection with the couple, who told her where the boat was tied up.
Walker later posted on Facebook that she planned to kayak to the site and tow it home on Tuesday, January 2.
Fish & Game said Walker was seen that day walking down Channel Road holding a rope, and was later spotted on the water in a yellow kayak, apparently determined to retrieve the lost boat on her own despite offers of help.
A Fish & Game official was called to Leavitt Bay on the night of Thursday, January 4, and was met by members of the Ossipee Fire and Police Departments and a Freedom patrol officer. At approximately 10 p.m., the searchers found Walker in the kayak in a cove off Log Cabin Road near Camp Marist.
Friends and neighbors posted tributes to Walker on Facebook, with Broad-Leavitt Bay Association President Kyle Copeland noting Walker’s years of volunteer service on the group’s Executive Board.
“She loved Ossipee Lake, was an avid kayaker, and always had the nicest things to say online about local lake-related events,” Copeland wrote in remembrance, adding that the organization would honor her with a memorial garden in the spring.
“She will be missed dearly in our neighborhood,” he wrote.
I am a Cocheco Quilt Guild member with Alys. She and I attended several quilt retreats together. I will miss her kind and helpful heart. She helped me learn more about quilting and I always enjoyed learning from her.
My heart is with her family.
She was a Great Lady and Teacher. May she Rest In Peace. My Condolences to Her Family.
Alys and I taught together for almost 40 years. She was an incredibly kind and generous person. Every Christmas, she would put up dozens of gift bags full of wonderful cookies, fudge and homemade breads. I treasure our times together, our fun-filled adventures with our students. Someday, I shall see you again. Rest in peace.
I worked with Alys in Whitman, MA for 31 years (1970-2001) as a fellow-teacher and school administrator.
Her thoughtfulness was boundless.
Alys would bake complete dinners for staff who were chaperoning our monthly middle school evening dances.
My condolences to her husband Ray, and family members.
Rest in peace, Alys.