The Ardis Brown Memorial Fund
Last week RAGOM lost one of its founders, Ardis M. Brown:
"If dog is man's best friend, Ardis Brown was dog's best friend." After 36 years of employment at the University of Minnesota (anesthesiology) Ardis filled her time and her heart with Golden Retrievers by starting a rescue program for Goldens, RAGOM. Ardis was an avid sports fan and she enjoyed skiing, tennis, basketball, golf, fishing, and training and walking her Goldens. Ardis was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, PSP. She passed away February 25, 2003. Ardis was born March 4, 1917 in St. Paul, but she called Amery, WI home.
Preceded in death by parents Earl F. and Cora P. Brown; brother, Lowell and Maxine Brown, and her six beautiful Golden Retrievers; Jessie, Cloonie, Ms. Barkley, Ben, Luke E. and Drake Brown. She is survived by Scott (Karen) Brown and lifetime devoted friends June Smith and Carol Ellis.
Memorial Services were held Monday at the Roselawn Cemetery Chapel in Roseville.
Memorials preferred to the animal charity of your choice. Arr. Roseville Memorial Chapel, 651-631-2727
Before there was a rescue group, there was Ardis. Before there was an Intake team, there was Ardis. Before there was a transport team, there was Ardis --- it was Ardis, who picked up Sophie in 1985, the very first rescue for RAGOM and delivered her to the Nygaards, the first RAGOM foster home.
Ardis Brown was one of the founders of Retrieve A Golden Of Minnesota. Her generosity and caring for our golden friends, the essence of Ardis, lives on in the volunteers who give of their time and love as freely as did our friend.
Today we establish The Ardis Brown Memorial Fund, to provide spay and neutering for RAGOM in her name. There are many wagging tails and happy golden families because of Ardis, and we know she is pleased from her spot at Rainbow Bridge, hearing us say that her work will continue in her name. Remember with me, if you will, those of you who may have trained with Ardis at TCOTC or had occasion to go somewhere with Ardis and Jessie, Cloonie, Ms. Barkley, maybe a dog show, do field work, go tracking, or with her Rescues Gentle Ben, Luke E, and Drake Brown, for visits to schools, nursing homes.
Now more than ever I remember the picture of Ardis, with Barkley walking at her side, holding her (many items can be inserted bag of treats, a stuffed toy, Ardis's wallet, which eventually got her own with a smaller amount of money) in her mouth.