My daughter (Catherine with a 'C', Katie with a 'K') spent most of her life as an advocate for animals. Most of you who knew her will remember that, in general, she preferred the company of animals. She shared a bond and a trust with them that was so much simpler than her relationships with "her humans". Yet she also loved her family and friends fiercely, with a loyal heart and a generous spirit. She lived with passion.

Even after her cancer diagnosis, surgery and treatment, she remained active, positive and engaged. She took trips, tried new recipes, and enjoyed watching local wildlife. Though born and raised in NH, she really appreciated basking in the Texas sun. Katie loved traveling, and collecting rocks - traits she inherited from her grandmother Kate - and she loved doing craft projects. Halloween was her favorite holiday; she said she liked to scare kids, but she mostly liked scaring herself.  She got so much pleasure out of decorating for any special occasion.

Brief though it was, her life was well lived and well spent. She was feisty, brutally honest, and she never pussy-footed around. She wasn't often gentle or diplomatic, but you always knew where you stood with her. Katie always knew what she wanted, and was always true to herself.

She died, at peace, on March 27th.

If you would like to help celebrate her life: instead of flowers, please make a donation to a local rescue organization, or to Katie's favorite: http://forgottendogs.org/donate/ . Give your dog a hug, and think of Katie. She would be most pleased to continue making the world a little better place.