KANSAS CITY, Mo. — David Goodrich, a well-known local painter, died tragically on a hiking trail in Utah. Other hikers estimate Goodrich died sometime Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
Goodrich had reportedly been hiking for hours on Tuesday, and stopped other hikers along the way asking for food and water.
His dog, Sophia, who went along with him on vacation, survived the trip.
The 52-year-old was known in Kansas City for his large paintings, especially portraits of people he knew with a mythological twist.
His friends can’t believe such a dynamic presence is suddenly gone.
“It’s just unbelievable. It’s a tragic loss. He was so young and he was only a mile from the trail head,” said Patricia Reed, a long-time friend of Goodrich.
Reed says many people have David Goodrich paintings in their homes, and she knows his memory will live on through his 
artwork.
An autopsy is being performed to determine Goodrich’s official cause of death.
