In Loving Memory

My sweet Ms Kitty you are so loved. I found myself looking for you this morning in all your favorite places. I know you are running free, no more pain in fields of green.

Toby will always be remembered as the kindest, sweetest, and best boy that any companion could ever ask for. We love you Toby!

Swift, I’m gonna really miss you. You are a very kind and loyal dog. You always followed me room to room. And was always happy to see me when I got home from work. You’re going to really be missed.

I loved you so much.

Frank, you were with me through different chapters of my life, and through it all, you were consistent and unapologetically yourself. You did and saw more in your life than most humans ever will. You camped dozens of times, cruised down the Las Vegas strip, visited countless national parks, swam in all kinds of mountain lakes and rivers, and hit lots and lots of breweries along the way. You came to us a mess, but completely confident. I think Zeke knew from day one that you were going to be his best friend. You gave him a smidge of your confidence whenever he stood by your side, or when he'd bark and then immediately hide behind his big brother. You supported Zekes obsessive fetch habit by making sure everyone knew they needed to throw the ball for him while you escorted him on every trip. You kept him warm on long car rides by letting him butt-snuggle you. You two have gotten in some trouble together as well, finding a chub of rancid beef and smearing into your ear canals. He's going to miss you a little more than most, even if he won't miss competing for affection a competition you couldn't have cared less about. You showed love in your own unique way, protecting the ladies in your life from dangers that only you could see, like the UPS and FedEx drivers, or dogs that were just slightly bigger than you. You were passionate about many things, especially water. In your mind, no one was safe swimming without your assistance, even if your idea of "rescuing" us left a few claw marks on our chests. But we always knew you meant well. As we always said, you were the lord of chaos and a dog of action who never needed anyone's permission or help to do what you set out to do. That fearless spirit naturally led to what everyone fondly called "Frankcidents" like taking a swim in the river and casually drifting right past me down a waterfall with a smile on your face or refusing to sit quietly in a bike trailer and tipping the whole thing over. Another one of your favorite pastimes was lounging just a little too close to the campfire, leaving your forehead almost too hot to touch and your tail slightly singed, keeping the smell of burnt hair around for the rest of the night. The backseat of the car will never be the same. I will always picture your face pressed against the glass, stubbornly refusing to lie down and relax, or the wonderment in your eyes as you looked out the window at Christmas lights. Whenever Mom wasn't with us, you'd sneak that window down to let your hair blow in the breeze and fly all over the car. All the vacuums in the house might finally catch a break, though I'm sure you've taught Magnolia how to drag in enough dirt to keep them working hard. I used to say you’d probably live forever because three years of cancer treatment never truly slowed you down. You knew you had to hold on and be here for Noli to reach her six month mark, we needed you for that. Though selfishly, I think you also just wanted to wait until she became a messy eater who dropped food on the floor for you. You were the best thing for your sister Magnolia. I think she inherited your hair and a good chunk of your personality, God help us all with that! We’ll all be so much safer with you watching over us from above. You cast a wide net, Frank, and now you can watch over all your people for eternity.

Thank you for giving us 8 years. I didn't know some tiny 3 pound kitten would grow into the big, floofy, floppy boy we had to say goodbye to 8 years later. We will miss you!

I miss you my sweet girl. I'll keep you close to me in my heart until we meet again.

You were deeply loved!

Jake Lee Nichols entered our lives in August of 2009. He was everything I never knew I could experience. With one shared glance into his sweet amber eyes, we loved each other always. Since our first meeting, he changed my entire life. On walks, Jake never needed a leash. He wanted to be right beside us. He demonstrated his insane talent as a hunter always - even into his old age of nearly 18 (we estimate). That boy could locate food anytime anywhere, and he never forgot where he found it. On our last night walk, he tried to hunt an armadillo - and he almost got it. Bubba had spirit and resilience. His strength and ebullience led him to become a friend to many. In his youth, he often visited a goose and duck to play tag. He LOVED skunks, to our dismay. Jake was full of adventure whimsy, and love. His displays of affection transformed over his life. Spry Jake used to army crawl on top of us or sit up like a meerkat with his paws balancing him. In the later years of his life, he lived with me. I was blessed to receive so much love. His soft ears and the side of his head fell fully in our hands as he nuzzled into our touch. He’d stare softly with pure admiration and contentment. All through his life, he held hands and gazed into our eyes. Jakey Boy became a celebrity when he moved into my home in 2024. Neighbors praised his beauty, kindness, and youthful spirit. In the end, many came to say goodbye with steaks, hamburger patties, and affection. To know Jake is to love and honor him. The last month of his life was the most challenging. Jake certainly had struggles in his many years. I watched him bounce back from difficulties time after time. I dreaded the day he couldn’t recover from his struggles. I felt sick thinking of goodbye. Sadly, that day came on October 7th, 2026. I only take comfort in knowing you were loved and at peace when you left us. I cherished every moment of your presence, and hope you felt adored your whole life up until our last sleepover together. Jake, I’ll miss you until my last breath. Always, I will celebrate your life and revel in our many memories. Ultimately, I’m so grateful. Thank you for almost 18 years. You are my family and I love you more than I can say. To my smart, sweet, loving, silly, beautiful baby boy - you are loved forever. “What is lovely never dies, but passes into other loveliness”. 2009-2026 ❤️‍🩹🐾❤️

My beautiful Baby, Thank you for ten years of wonderful companionship and many adventures, including a fun road trip!