Missy 1994-2008

My beloved cocker spaniel, Missy, shown in the front of this picture, left us today after being found to have inoperable cancer of the urinary tract.  She had difficulties urinating, and was taken to the vet, then to the emergency room.  After tests, it was determined that she only had a 20% survival if all stops were taken, and that they could not operate.  We then made the only decision we could make.

She left us with her grieving father and mother there, as well as her Uncle Mike.  She is survived by me, Lauren, her Uncle Mike, and her child, Silky, who remains here, along with Zoey (upper left).

Missy came to us, sadly on the day my father accidentally backed over and killed our Jack Russell terrier, Sam.  As my grieving father and grandfather drove the back road from Trumann to Jonesboro, they found this little puppy, miles from any farm.  Seeing it as the sign it was, they picked her up, and she was with him until he died in 2003, and was with us until today.

I have no children, so I have no idea what it could be like to bury one's child.  I saw my grandfather do it with my mother, and I never want to go through that.  For me, this has come as close as it gets, and I don't want to ever go through it again, although Silky is 13, and for a lab, that's pretty old.

I will remember my Missy for the fact that she loved everyone, and was as loyal as any dog could be.  She used to go wake up Gatlin in the middle of the night and would not leave him alone until he checked and told her I was all right.

She was loved and loved back, and will always be with us.  I am out for a day or two, even though I am still working ClanJamFry in the morning .  It will do me some good to get away from the house for awhile.

Goodbye, Missy.