LEON — A woman who was simply leaving home to go to work ended up being swept away and killed by this week’s high water.

According to Mason County Sheriff Greg Powers, Jessica L. Harris, 50, of Beech Fork Rd. in Leon, stepped outside her home around 9 p.m. on Wednesday night to depart for work. In order for Harris to reach her vehicle, she had to cross a creek near her home which was swollen from this week’s heavy rains. Apparently the force of the high water was too much and carried her away.

About a half hour after Harris was to have left for work, her daughter arrived home and noticed her mother’s car was still parked at the house. At this point, Harris’ family alerted emergency personnel and law enforcement for help. Powers said Harris’ body was found about six hours later after the water receded about 100 yards from her home.

Firefighters with the Leon Volunteer Fire Department, as well as personnel with the Mason County Sheriff’s Department, West Virginia State Police and Mason County EMS assisted in the search.

The sheriff’s department is leading the investigation, though Powers said foul play was not suspected. Harris’ remains were sent to the state medical examiner in Charleston for an autopsy.

Harris’ obituary appeared inside Saturday’s edition of The Point Pleasant Register.