Rushing floodwaters southeast of Tri-Cities claim a victim. Woman’s body found

A woman missing in Umatilla County after flooding began was found dead Sunday.

The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office announced about 4:30 p.m. that the body of Janet Tobkin Conley, 62, had been found Sunday morning on the Bar M Ranch in northwest Umatilla County by searchers and her neighbors.

“It appears she was swept away by rushing water,” the sheriff’s office said.

The ranch is near the the Umatilla River and there are also creeks in the area.

Conley was reported missing by neighbors Saturday after they had last talked with her Thursday night as flood waters were rising.

She said then that she wished to stay in her home rather than evacuate, according to the sheriff’s office.

Volunteers from the Umatilla County Search and Rescue, with help from the Oregon National Guard, began searching for Conley on Saturday.

She was an experienced hiker and camper and was familiar with the Blue Mountain area, officials said when she was reported missing.

Rain and snow melt in the Blue Mountains has caused flooding in southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon.

The Oregon Air National Guard and Umatilla County Search and Rescue volunteers continued to work Sunday evening to reach residents trapped at their homes after water took out roads.

This story was originally published February 9, 2020 at 6:12 PM.