Rest in Peace "Lady Belle Melton" 9/25/93-2/6/09

Sadly the Floyd Melton Family lost a very dear member last week. Our precious black lab, Belle, of 15 years died peacefully in the comfort of her kennell. She even raised her head and wagged her tail one last time and let the kids say goodbye to her before they departed for school Friday morning. What a life that dear sweet dog lived! We often referred to her as "our first born". I mean when you have a best friend like Belle since your Junior year in college what else is there to say except that she was indeed like a child to us. Belle was a special dog no doubt. Probably the most "lethargic" lab you could ever meet but one that too shared a passion for duck retrieval and pleasing others. When we brought her home to Greenwood from Oxford for the first time I distinctly remember Floyd's mom, Elizabeth, insisting that something must be wrong with her because Belle just laid around and was so very calm at all times. Very very un"puppy lab"like. Floyd said she was fine and picked up one of her retreiving dummies to which she was instantly at his side ready to go. She even lived a little culture/couture and moved with us to Miami for the year we were there. She fetched up dummies off the shoreline in Key Biscayne and walked about on Ocean Drive no doubt. She would wait on us daily to come home from work or school as she peered through our vertical blinds in our apartment just staring at the parking lot. We even flew her home with us that year for the Christmas break so she could fetch up some ducks. Ironically, her sister, Gauge Connell (Kelly and Ted's), passed away last week as well in her home up HWY 49 in Clarksdale. Who would have thought that those 2 dogs would live to the ripe old ages they reached much less die a few days apart. Belle was also a great mother to a litter of pups, one of which is still around. Jade Trotter, Lisa and McLean's dog, is holding her own down in Fairhope, AL. She's a beautiful WHITE lab and so precious. However, age too is creeping up on her fast. Moss also had one of Belle's pups, Brooke. Brooke died about 5 years ago but also a treasure of a dog and loved by many. It's hard to imagine our life without Belle. That's the sad thing about family pets...you just outlive them and it doesn't seem fair! We'll never forget the memories and love that she gave so many of us. Tears are falling as I blog this post but as we all should remember from the movie "Steele Magnolias" LIFE GOES ON. And I am a firm believer that yes ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVAN. I know Belle is up there now fetching away and playing with her sister, Gauge, and her ole pal, Mattie Pedigo who is hearding them about keeping them in order... Thanks for the memories Belle. We will NEVER forget you.