Photo supplied, Mattie Heiner

As the search continues for Libby Stimpson — believed to have been swept into the Weber River last Monday — those who know and love her want the community to know her story.

“I would say we just want (to tell) the proper narrative of who she really was and the beautiful person she was,” said Kenzie Norton of Ogden, Stimpson’s friend and business partner.

Moreover, they want to thank the contingent of volunteers, law enforcement officials, search-and-rescue experts and others who have aided in efforts to find the Weber County woman. “We are so grateful for the hours and hours that people have spent giving their time and attention. We are so amazed at the Ogden community,” Norton said.

Stimpson, 27, was walking alone with her two dogs near the bank of the Weber River on family property in the Uintah area last Monday evening when she apparently fell into the waterway. The Weber County Sheriff’s Office subsequently received reports of a person floating down the river in distress, leading to search efforts that have continued ever since.

“At this time, we have been unable to locate the missing person, and the search is ongoing. We will continue to search throughout the weekend and longer if needed,” the Weber County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Friday. The current of the Weber River is strong due to the vast quantity of snowmelt trickling into the river, complicating search efforts.

Tim Vandenack, Standard-Examiner

Stimpson’s sister Mattie Heiner, of Morgan, and Norton — while struggling with the turn of events — spoke with the Standard-Examiner in a bid to convey a sense of Stimpson as a person. Her disappearance has prompted wide news coverage in Utah and a drawn a steady stream of volunteers who have been monitoring the Weber River in the Uintah area around the clock, watching for clues of the missing young woman.

“She was a very artistic, very talented person. Everything she did was creative and beautiful and artistic,” Heiner said.

Stimpson, married to Luke Simpson, comes from a blended family and has several half-siblings and a step-sibling, among other family members. She graduated from Bonneville High School in Washington Terrace and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, California.

In Ogden, she launched a t-shirt company with Norton, called Wild Wander, and worked in merchandising for jane.com, a “curated” online marketplace. She’s a “phenomenal drawer” and “very talented graphic designer,” Norton said.

Beyond her creative attributes, though, Heiner and Norton describe Stimpson as a warm, giving person.

Photo supplied, Mattie Heiner

“I feel like her number one focus in her life was community and family,” said Norton, who attended high school with Stimpson. “Her whole focus in life was making sure everyone in her life was loved. She would show up for you… She never wanted anyone to feel like they didn’t have a friend.”

Heiner echoed that. “She just would emulate kindness and compassion and love,” she said, also noting her sister’s wit and intelligence.

Looking forward is fraught with difficulty, especially not knowing the exact circumstances that led to Stimpson’s apparent fall in the river. A GoFundMe fundraising drive has been launched to aid with funeral and burial expenses “when she is finally recovered.”

“At this point, I think it’s more of a recovery than a rescue and just finding peace and comfort knowing she was found,” Heiner said. The two dogs Stimpson was walking survived.

According to the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, officials from numerous agencies have aided in search efforts since Monday, including the Weber Fire Distrct and the Riverdale, Ogden, Roy, South Ogden and South Weber fire departments. Officials from the Morgan County and Davis County sheriff’s offices, the Utah Highway Patrol and the Riverdale, Roy, Harrisville and Weber State police departments have also assisted.

Tim Vandenack, Standard-Examiner

“Right now we’re still combing the area, combing the shore,” said Sgt. Paul Babinsky of the Weber County Sheriff’s Office. Kayakers, drone teams, divers and swift water teams have assisted, among others, scouring the Weber River all the way to the 12th Street corridor bridge over the waterway in western Weber County.

Despite the heartbreak of the situation, that outpouring and effort from volunteers, first responders and others, Heiner and Norton say, has been of great comfort.

That so many volunteers are willing to help, Norton thinks, is a testament to the “positivity, love and acceptance” that have embodied Stimpson’s interactions with others.

“She has only ever shown people love and grace,” Norton said.

Volunteers have walked the paths along the Weber River in the area around the Adams Avenue Parkway bridge over the waterway. They’ve also stood vigil on the bridges in the area around the clock, hoping to find something that helps with search efforts.

Tim Vandenack, Standard-Examiner

“It’s been incredible,” Heiner said.