Our Beloved Lily Marie

It is with the greatest sadness that we write this...our beloved Lily Marie Perry passed away on October 29, 2008. Lily was born on February 19, 2000 in Springfield, Oregon a couple blocks away from where we lived. One day the door bell rang and two sweet little girls had puppies in their arms and were tyring to find homes for them. They had an alert male dog and a quiet, sleeping female. We choose the docile female (hahaha, did we find out differently later on) and it was then that our fur baby family grew to two. We had been contemplating a pal for ole Shadow but hadn't quite decided yet. I guess things in life sometimes, well most of the time get decided for you. There is a greater plan out there for us. That is the belief we hold onto as we try to deal with the sudden loss of our precious Lily.
Lily was a crazy, rambunctious girl. She loved life so much. She did everything with such passion and determination. She learned so much from her older brother Shad. The two were like peas and carrots. Lily lived in Oregon for the majority of her life. She spent the last two years living in Colorado, with brother Shad, who passed away in February, and with her Mommy and Daddy and finally Sister Ava. These past few months Lily and Ava had grown so close. It has been really hard watching Ava walk around the house and call for Lily. She was just starting to learn her name and was quite proud of the fact that she could say it. It has taken a while for all of us to realize that Lily is not here. The house seems so quiet and empty.

Lily enjoyed camping with her family, going for walks (well I mean taking Daddy for walks), she loved running on the Oregon coast, howling at sirens (something she learned from Shad) and just lying around, usually on the couch waiting to bark at the next person walking by or that sudden sound. She was such a little protector of her family. I remember a camping trip we went on with the Monroe family and how much of an impact she had on her Aunt Gabrielle. Lily was such a smart, almost person like being that Gabrielle was amazed at her. Everyone who met Lily loved her. Her disposition was so likable. She was so soft and sweet. Her essence will be greatly missed.

Both Shadow and Lily departed our family this past year. Now they are together again with each other and their cousins... Snarts Rule! It has been a tough year on the ole heart. In one sense a great year with Ava coming home and then on the other side very sad with both our dogs dying. Yuck! We look to 2009 with great hope. We are praying for the ability to find peace and happiness in our hearts thru all the loss (Obama won the election, so that helps somewhat).

We love and miss you Lily so much! Thank you for blessing our lives for the last eight and half years.

Love forever,

Daddy, Mommy, and sister Ava.