A memorial ceremony was held Friday (June 14) for two YCity women who died two weeks ago when flash flooding swamped Scott County.
The two women, Vivian Reimer and Regina “Kay” Shearn died along with Scott County Sheriff Cody Carpenter and Arkansas Game & Fish Officer Joel Campora on May 31. Carpenter and Campora were attempting to rescue Reimer and Shearn from their home along Mill Creek in the rising flood waters.
"The shock has been the hardest hardest thing because no one expected this," Jan Stephens, Reimer's niece, said.
Reimer and Shearn had put their house up on concrete blocks in case of flooding, Stephens explained. However, Stephens said the two women had lived in the same house for 15 years and never had floodwaters even get close.
"Our family has been devastated over the commitment of [Carpenter and Campora] and that they risked everything they did to save our family members," Stephens said. "We hope at some point to be able to visit with [their families] and just be able to tell them that we love them and that they'll be in our prayers always."
The memorial service was held at 2 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Chapel located on W. Highway 80.
A fifth person, Cathy Byers, was also killed in the flooding. All of the bodies have been recovered.
5NEWS is teaming up with Yeagers to provide supplies to help flood victims in Scott and LeFlore Counties rebuild damaged homes and businesses.
Starting Friday, June 14, monetary donations will be accepted at the following Yeagers Ace Hardware locations:
4910 Jenny Lind Road, Fort Smith
2619 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith
1610 Main Street, Van Buren
814 W. Center, Greenwood
Yeagers will take the money raised and buy supplies needed at cost.
To make tax-deductible donations online, visit : http://www.communitychurch.com/connect/local/disaster-relief
