Sherry Noppe found: Missing Katy grandmother discovered in George Bush Park after dog Max heard barking

KATY, Texas (KTRK) — Sherry Noppe, the 63-year-old grandmother who has been at the center of an intense search since earlier this week, was found safe on Friday morning, Harris County Precinct 5 said.

According to officials, she was found at about 3 a.m. “by a group of tireless volunteers and deputies who were alerted by the sound of her dog, Max, barking in the woods.”

Noppe was last seen Tuesday afternoon while out walking the family’s black Labrador retriever, Max.

She was seen on security camera footage walking on Sparrows Ridge Drive near Pattison Elementary in Katy. Since then, no one had heard from her.

Her family believed she was likely walking to George Bush Park, where she was ultimately found several miles away from when she was last spotted north of park.

Her son said she has a mild form of dementia and left the house without her cellphone.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Search continues for missing Katy woman Sherry Noppe at George Bush Park

Texas EquuSearch launched an operation to find Noppe at George Bush Park on Wednesday, and the search continued Thursday until the afternoon when it was suspended due to weather.

Volunteers and search crews returned to the area Friday morning.

“It’s a small miracle that she’s alive after being missing for so long,” said Constable Ted Heap in a tweet. “Our concern now is getting her out of the woods and to a hospital for a medical evaluation. Thank you to Texas Equusearch along with the army of searchers who never gave up.”

According to friends, she was alert and talking, but cold and covered in mud.

She was lying in a marshy area, several feet from the main trail.

Given when she was found, that means Noppe was in the park as storms rolled through Thursday afternoon.

“Us and police had heard some dogs barking faintly here and there, and so we just kept listening for that,” said family friend Michael England. “We were happy to find her. Happy that she is alive, healthy. The dog was there. Everything was good. I mean, the dog saved her life.”

Noppe is recovering in a nearby hospital. Her dog, Max, is resting at home and safe.

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