The body of the 93-year-old Southdean woman who went missing on Saturday was recovered from a river near her home on Monday morning.
Miss Jean Arres of Whiteburn, Southdean, 10 miles south of Hawick, was last seen by family members at around 9pm on Saturday and was reported missing on Sunday after she failed to turn up for church.
Police and volunteers from the Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team, the Borders Search and Rescue Unit (BSRU), Borders Water Rescue Team and three search and rescue dog handlers with their sniffer dogs mounted a search on Sunday night.
A BRSU member found the body of Miss Arres in the Jed Water mid-morning on Monday. A report has been sent to the procurator fiscal.
A neighbour in Chesters said: “Our community has been really touched by the concern and good wishes sent whilst we were looking for our friend and neighbour Jean Arres. We cannot thank the rescue services enough for all they did, even though the final outcome was a sad one.”
Miss Arres’ family, the Mabons of Lustruther Farm, requested Southdean Show, which Miss Arres enjoyed, should go ahead at the farm on Saturday.
The neighbour said: “It is our hope people will come along and raise a glass in her honour on Saturday. She’d have really liked that.”