Mourners gathered near Branson to pay tribute to the 17 people who lost their lives Thursday when the tourist boat they were riding encountered a severe storm and sank in Table Rock Lake.
The chapel at College of the Ozarks near Branson was full as civic and religious leaders expressed their grief and praised the community鈥檚 response.
12 of the 17 passengers who perished were visiting from out-of-state; nine were from a single family from Indiana.
Branson resident Yvette Strick said she didn鈥檛 know anyone on the boat, but she came to the memorial because she felt like her heart was breaking.
鈥淲hen you live in a tourist community, you fast become a friend to everyone. And we have a very tight community. Also, they鈥檙e here, and it鈥檚 our job to try to make them feel welcome,鈥� she said.
The drowning victims ranged in age from one to 76, according to the ; nine people were from the same extended family.
Joanie Jorash attended the service; she studies social work at the college.
鈥淵ou know, it鈥檚 easy to just kind of be like, 鈥業t doesn鈥檛 matter. It doesn鈥檛 apply to me.鈥� I wasn鈥檛 technically involved. But I just wanted to be there for these people, even if they never know who I am,鈥� Jorash said.
The drowning victims ranged in age from one to 76, according to the ; nine people were from the same extended family.
The MSHP also said none of the 31 passengers aboard the boat were wearing life jackets.
Efforts now turn to the investigation, which is being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The US Coast Guard said it plans to oversee a salvage crew bringing the sunken vessel up to the surface Monday. The duck boat will then be transported to a secure facility, where it will undergo an inspection as part of the investigation.
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