---

In memory of those that have been loved and lost:

• Grousemoor Phoenix Fawkes, MH (Foxx) Owned and greatly missed by Doug and Sheila Nelson.
   

• K.C.’s Sassafras of Weilerbach (Sassy), UD RAE AX AXJ WC WCX
  May 3, 1997 – June 10, 2009.  Click here for tribute.
   

• It is with great sadness that I say goodbye to Michael's Jesse Bear JH. You won't see a lot of initials before or after his name nor will you read about him in any record books. He never caused folks to be in awe of his intelligence, speed or precision in the hunt test world but his desire to hunt ran as deeply as mine. God brought Jesse into my life when a true, loyal friend was what I needed to survive; he was all that and more. He learned how to retrieve from the worst trainer in the world....Me! He lived on a steady diet of "book" drills and trainer incompetency and somehow still learned obedience and how to "go get whatever I shot." He was a meat dog in every sense of the word and my best friend. He didn't run laser-straight lines nor did he care to. When the truck started, he was in it and he lived life as I do; without a leash! When we walked hundreds of yards in the mud to a sloppy blind he was there, right by my side, never complaining and always ready for the whistle of wings just before daybreak. Jesse retrieved his first duck at the age of 4 months and he retrieved his last at the age of 12 1/2 years. I was privileged to have Jesse in my life for over 15 years. I was honored to be there for his first breath and heartbroken to be there for his last. Never have I met a tougher dog and his eagerness to please was unyielding. When Jesse was 11 1/2 years old he and I competed in our first hunt test and he went on to achieve his JH title with four straight passes and two straight Senior passes; he never knew failure. Jesse's favorite pillow was my boot, whether my foot was in it or not. His manners were second to none, as long as you let him lean against you when he was tired. These are just some of the memories I will keep of my best friend.  It is often said that we ruin our first dog but our second dog ruins us. Jesse has a spot in my heart that can never be replaced by another, he did a fine job of "ruining" me! He was never a Master Hunter or a Grand Champion but he was my retriever, my companion and my best friend his whole life. A dog doesn't have to have Titles, Ribbons or Championships to be great, all they have to do is be themselves. I miss you Jesse with all of my heart and I pray to someday see you again. If, when I leave this world, there are no dogs in Heaven, I will kneel and humbly ask God to send me where ever they are.  Michael Evans, owner.