Editor’s note: The following story has been reprinted, with permission, from the online news site: Walworthcountycommunitynews.com.
By Dan Plutchak
Linda Godfrey, the author who gained fame after first writing about the legend of the Beast of Bray Road in 1991 in Walworth County’s weekly newspaper has died at the age of 71.
A visitation will be conducted at Albrecht Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Milton, on Friday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. (OBITUARY)
The tale of the Beast of Bray Road spread rapidly following her story published in The Week in December of 1991.
(Read: Tracking down the ‘Beast of Bray Road’)
“The rumors floated around town for two years or so before I heard them,” she wrote. “A wolfish-looking creature that ran on two legs and had been seen around the Bray Road area, stealing chickens, eating roadkills, and scaring the daylights our of locals who (sometimes literally) ran into it.”
Syndicated news shows quickly caught on to the story, with TV crews making their way to Delavan to interview Godfrey about recent sightings of The Beast.
The National Enquirer even paid Godfrey and staff photographer Terry Mayer to stake out Bray Road for any signs of the Beast.
Elkhorn’s Christmas parade that year had a float featuring the Beast.
The story launched an amazing new career for Godfrey as an investigative researcher where she authored over 20 books including novels, true crime and cryptozoology.
She was a world-renowned cryptozoologist and appeared on numerous TV and radio programs and was a popular speaker at conferences and events across the country, according to her obituary.
Her story also inspired numerous sci-fi movie screenplays.
Godfrey passed away peacefully on Nov. 27, 2022 at Agrace Hospice, according to her obituary.
Godfrey and her husband, Steve, moved to Delavan in 1978 and lived in the Walworth County area until 2016, when they moved to Janesville.
She is described as a talented artist, writer and speaker, loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was also known as a devoted Christian and attended First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elkhorn.
The Godfreys have two sons, Benjamin (Holly) Godfrey of Pewaukee, and Nathan (Noelle) of Milwaukee; grandchildren Marshall Eiden, Callum Godfrey and Rory Godfrey; siblings Cheryl Roberts, Larry (Diane) Roberts, Pam Roberts, Paul Roberts, Richard (Brenda) Roberts, and Tim (Dawn) Roberts.
Dan Plutchak is the founder of Walworth County Community News, a countywide, online news outlet covering Walworth County, Wis., begun in 2021. Weekly newspaper coverage in Walworth County began in June of 1978 when The Janesville Gazette launched Walworth County Sunday, a weekly insert into the Gazette. Walworth County Sunday was revamped in 1991 into a standalone publication, The Week, and Plutchak joined as a staff photographer. Plutchak went on to edit The Week from 1995 to 2008. That year, Bliss Communications purchased Community Shoppers Inc., and rolled The Week into CSI’s Walworth County Sunday. Plutchak later became editor of Walworth County Sunday until he departed for WKOW 27 News in Madison in 2017 to oversee the station’s digital operations. Now retired, Plutchak founded Walworth County Community News to provide coverage that doesn’t always make it into other local media outlets.
Linda Godfrey
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So sorry to hear about Linda passing she is far most one of my favorite authors for I too am a cryptozoologist.god bless the goosey fily and friends at this sad moment .rest in peace Linda.
I had finished reading her book “Real Wolfmen” just about the same day she is said to have passed away. It was an amazing, eye-opening book, considered all possible angles, and I highly respect her dedicated search for the truth on these matters. God Bless Linda Godfrey and my condolences to all. There will always be mysteries and we owe a debt of gratitude to the dedicated investigators.
I just learned of our dear Linda’s passing from Paul Bestall announcing it on his Mysteries & Monsters show on You Tube. I am absolutely heartbroken to hear this, as she was so young and full of life. We were friends on Facebook, and she was always so kind to chat with me even though she had a very busy schedule. Linda was a true professional, and it’s thanks to her that we now know and enjoy stories about these Upright Canids (her preferred term for them), aka Werewolves or Dog Men. I will truly miss hearing her interviews, which were always so lively and interesting. She single-handedly brought worldwide attention to the upright canid/werewolf phenomena, and all of us interested in Cryptozoology owe her greatly for her knowledge and dedication to the subject, which enriched all of our lives and made our world so much more interesting. I will miss you my dear Linda, and this world will not be the same without you. Rest in eternal peace my friend. And my deepest condolences to her husband, children, family and friends.
I adored Linda Godfrey, endlessly talented, kind and wonderful. Her books were just great and so refreshingly well written as well as mistake free. She’ll be missed.
Linda was a journalist’s journalist. Her perserverence, intellect & style is top notch. We’ve lost another shero & legend. Now she knows what’s out there. Do your thing Linda?
Somehow I missed Linda’s passing and just heard about it and am very sad to hear this. I’ve been a big fan of hers for many many years, read ma y of her books and always listened to any radio show or podcast that her on. Loved hearing her tell the Beast of Bray Road story and how she got all started in the cryptozoology world. My sincere condolences to her family and her husband. She will be missed.
Ms. Godfrey is a true legend in the Cryptid research field. I had always hoped to meet her someday. As a Cryptid researcher and writer (“The Booger Chronicles” series), I was inspired by Ms. Godfrey’s work, and affectionately dubbed her the “Dogmother of Dogman Research.” May she rest in peace.
Linda was a honest,hard working woman. Her work is legendary and courageous, she inspired integrity in investigative journalism, kind,generous,humble and very sweet. We will miss you Linda,God Rest Your Soul.