Gaylesville man drowns at Weiss Lake

A 70-year-old Gaylesville man drowned just after noon Wednesday in Weiss Lake, according to Cherokee County Deputy Coroner Carl Brown .
Jerry Wayne Clowdus and his wife had taken their pontoon boat out, apparently just checking the boat out.
About noon, Clowdus  apparently intended to load the boat up and had gotten out at the state dock off Alabama Highway 68 in Cedar Bluff. The boat floated away from the dock with his wife on board.
“She hollered at him. She wasn’t a strong swimmer, so he pulled off his shirt and shoes and went in the water after the boat,”
He went under and never surfaced again.
Cedar Bluff Police, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee County Rescue Squad and emergency medical services responded, they were able to retrieve Clowdus’ body by 12:45 p.m.
EMS personnel were unable to resuscitate him.