Family thankful for support after Hope Cassel's death paddle boarding at Chatfield Reservoir

The family of a local doctor killed paddle boarding at Chatfield Reservoir has issued a statement thanking the community.

"The family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and wonderful actions," Hope Cassel's ex-husband posted on Facebook. 

Cassel, a Parker obstetrician, was paddle boarding with her three sons ages 14, 13 and 11 and a friend of the boys off the swim beach at Chatfield Reservoir Friday at about 1 p.m. when a storm came up, a Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said in a statement.

The four boys, who were all wearing life vests, were able to make it to shore, but Cassel did not. She was found in the water unresponsive. She died Monday.

Cassel's ex-husband wrote on Facebook that funeral arrangements have not been finished yet.

"Because of the expected nature of the event and that it occurred at a state park, we are having to wait longer to make final plans," Cassel wrote. "There are additional processes occurring which we have no control over."

Cassel wrote that he is working to set up a fund for the boys.