Flood victim recalled as caring, outgoing
A Connellsville man said his family is numb, trying to process the death of their mother to this weekend’s devastating flooding in Wheeling, W.Va.
Javier Datiz Jr. said his mother, Lisa Marie McMasters, tried to escape from her flooded home by floating on a garbage can with her dog Tucker.
“When the water started coming into the house, I think she got scared and tried to get out. She couldn’t swim … and once she got out, the water was moving pretty fast, and I think it just swept her up and took her,” Datiz said Wednesday.
He said a neighbor tried to rescue his mother, but was unable to get to her.
The 58-year-old woman, who lived in Triadelphia, W. Va., was one of eight people who died in flash flooding in Ohio County when as much as four inches of rain fell in less than an hour.
McMasters had lived in the Triadelphia area for about 10 years and worked at an area fast food restaurant.
Her son described her as “very strong-willed.”
“She was just generally a nice person,” Datiz said.
McMasters’ daughter, Shauna McMasters, shared similar sentiments about her mother.
“She was very outgoing,” said the 2007 McGuffey graduate. “She knew a lot of people. She was a stubborn person, but everybody always had a good time with her. She would always make people laugh.”
The siblings said a neighbor found McMasters’ dog Tucker, and her boyfriend took the dog in.
Shauna McMasters, who now lives in South Carolina, said they were able to track him down and pick up the dog.
“(Tucker) just lays around because this was his mom,” she said.
Datiz said he’s still coming to terms with his mother’s sudden death.
“I’m kind of numb from everything, and how it happened,” he said. “For something to be so traumatic and to try to understand how she felt in those last moments and what went through her mind, that’s a lot to hold in. I think that’s what bothers me the most.”
Lisa McMasters’ viewing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday at Brooks Funeral Home, 111 E. Green St., Connellsville. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations be made to the funeral home in memory of Lisa Marie McMasters. Reception to follow at the Son’s and Daughter’s of Italy, in Connellsville.