Two Chandler residents died in a drowning incident at Bell Cow Lake on Saturday, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP).
At around 5:20 p.m. in area B of the lake, Josef Bowser, 20, was out with Donald Buzzell, 55, in a 1979 Champion Bass Boat. According to the OHP report, the vessel began taking on water and eventually capsized. Bowers and Buzzell entered the water and did not resurface. According to the dispatch call, the boat was about 100 yards from shore.
Both were recovered on Sunday by the OHP dive team in about 12 feet of water.
AGoFundMe was started by Lorenia May to help with covering the costs of arrangements for Buzzell.
“Donnie Buzzell was a kind and gentle soul who had a passion for God, our two children Kristen and Jessica, and his four grandchildren, whom he loved and cherished deeply,” May wrote on the fundraiser page. “Donnie was funny and lighthearted, always willing to show up and help his friends and family.”
May continued in the note that Buzzell was out fishing for his birthday that day when the boat sank for “reasons we still don’t know yet.”
As ofTuesday morning, the fundraiser had raised about $135 of $1,800.