Identity of Potholes drowning victim released

MOSES LAKE - A woman who drowned at Potholes Reservoir Sunday afternoon was identified as Tiffany Cohee, 30, of Moses Lake.

Cohee drowned when she slipped off an inner tube "in a channel that feeds the reservoir," according to a press release from the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

Witnesses at the scene said Cohee "fell off her inner tube in some rapids and did not resurface," the press release said.

Cohee was one of three people, each on a separate inner tube. The others managed to make it to shore, according to the sheriff's office. The sheriff's office has not said whether or not Cohee was wearing a flotation device.

Cohee worked with handicapped children, including the son of Kathryn Jones, of Moses Lake.

"She was my son's best friend, champion, advocate, guardian and ambassador to his world. We were very blessed to have such an amazing lovely young woman in our lives," Jones said.

The two families were friends, "from road trips, to Silverwood, the Seahawks victory parade, pools, parks, birthday parties, painting, flying kites and carnivals," Jones said. Cohee was "a cherished family member," Jones said.

Cohee had a gift for working with special needs children, and "these kinds of precious gifts are rare. We were very blessed to have such an amazing lovely young women in our lives," Jones said.

The accident was reported about 3 p.m., the sheriff's office said. "The water is flowing between 3 and 10 miles per hour in that channel," the release said, and swift-water rescue teams were summoned as a result.

Swift-water teams from Grant County Search and Rescue, Moses Lake Fire Department and Grant County fire district 5, 10, and 11 assisted in the recovery effort. Cohee was pulled from the water at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Cohee is survived by her husband and two children. In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to a fund for the Cohee children. Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/d7226g.