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RUSTY LaFRANCE:

I knew Marilyn for quite a few years; because of her, I came to know my dear friends Dorothy & Will, before they moved to New Mexico.

I spent many long hours working & talking with Marilyn about this or that rescued Airedale. I never knew Marilyn before her battle with cancer - she amazed me with that part of her life; knowing full well that stress was something she was suppose to avoid -- yet she never let the Airedales down.

We spoke often about the similarities in occupations . . . but with all those conversations there was one that I always remembered and thought of every time she called or emailed me . . . it was a conversation about her getting ready for a special motorcycle trip she was about to take (to Sturgis, if my memory serves). She spoke with such excitement & happiness that it always stuck with me -- mainly because of the picture of Marilyn traveling on a motorcycle, or Marilyn in the middle of a bunch of other "bikers". This always made me smile as we so often don't think of our Airedale counterparts in any fashion other than what we know of them through the Airedales in need.

I am thankful for the email she sent me toward the end of March - thankful that she was kind enough to think of me at such a hard time in her life.

My thoughts are with Don; my gratitude and my admiration to both of them for sharing, caring & giving.

FROM THE 2006 FILLED WITH LOVE FOR SENIOR AIREDALES FUNDRAISER
Louise	Louise
"I want THAT one!"
Maggie Mae, four years old, is in the white & red one with the pink collar. Maggie ate the black & red end off before I could get it off of her. One-year-old Louise is my foster. Don't you love them?
"Well, that was fun. Now what shall we do?"

JACK BRITTAN & CHASE:

Marilyn was an incredible & unique lady. That feisty little gal had an energy level that was only exceeded by her passion for the mission of Airedale Rescue. She always went to whatever measures were necessary to protect the sick, needy, homeless & abandoned dogs that found their way into Airedale Rescue. She felt personally responsible for them and always ensured that each & every one of them was properly taken care of from the moment they came into Rescue until the time they were placed in their forever homes.

I always was amazed how so many of these dogs would be placed in the perfect home for both the family & the dog. She had a real talent for facilitating that perfect match. The evidence of this was the extremely low percentage of dogs that had to come back to Rescue because of a family/dog pairing that did not work.

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to have Marilyn as a dear friend and will miss her, as I am sure many others will also.

LYNN BRITTAN & CHASE:

We are all so sad today, we've lost a darling friend, as well as a rescue champion.

We first met Marilyn when she responded to our application for a rescue dog. Believe it or not, there were very few dogs available at that time. She came to our house for a home visit and we became good friends from then on. The result of that home visit was getting our beloved Miss Dolly from SWAT.

We lost our Dolly on Christmas Day, and Marilyn sent us a sweet gift, "For Every Dog an Angel". which is a comforting book. As sick as Marilyn was, she took the time to do that. She was such an extremely thoughtful person. A wonderful friend!

As a rescue person, she was extraordinary. Many, many dogs have wonderful homes because of her ability to coordinate people & events. We became involved in Rescue because of her and her dedication. Most adopters became her friends too.

We acquired our second Airedale through Marilyn. We were going to foster him for a couple of weeks. That was almost two years ago on June 16 - Marilyn's birthday. I always told her that she & Chase now had the same birthday. Marilyn told us we failed as fosters - we weren't suppose to adopt. Ha.

As a bonus, we became friends as couples. We inherited Don, too. Lots of good times, and now, shared grieving.

JODY BRITTAN & ALLIE:

A few years ago, Marilyn sent me a plush little Airedale toy. She sent this to me in appreciation for a fundraiser for a poor Airedale in a shelter that my Dad pulled and named Angel. I've always thought of Marilyn every time I look at it. She was definitely an Angel to Rescue and to all who knew her.

Allie really thinks that little plush Airedale should be her toy, but she's not getting it!

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TRULY DEDICATED FRIENDS OF AIREDALES, PAGE 15