Our Town Theatre Artistic Director Found Dead Along Maryland Creek

BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- The Maryland Natural Resources Police has recovered the body of  a woman from Deep Creek Lake Thursday afternoon.

Authorities say a neighbor in the area found the body along the water's edge around 3:30p.m.

The victim was identified as Jane Bement Avery, 68, of Oakland.

The cause of death remains under investigation.

The body is being transported to the medical examiner's officer in Baltimore. Investigators say there was no sign of trauma to the body.

Avery is well known in the community and was the artistic director at Our Town Theatre in Oakland.  Avery was also a retired English teacher and was elected into the Garrett County Women's Hall of Fame in 1998.

In a statement on Facebook, the remembered one of their own, saying Avery touched many lives.

"We are very sorry to inform you that our Artistic Director and founder Jane Avery died earlier today. We know she touched many lives. We encourage you to leave remembrances here on this page and at the theatre if you'd like to do so. We will post details of arrangements as they become available to us."

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