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| "Death is just another path, one that we must all take." Gandalf the White |
Payton Walker, age 11, passed away
late Sunday night in Rice Lake, WI. She is survived by all 5 members of the
Walker family and was the last remaining canine member of the household.
Born just outside of Rice Lake, near Lynndales Golf Course
where one of her family members Eric put way too many ass whippings on his friends,
Payton was all Wisconsin to the core. Though not a naturally gifted athlete
like most dogs, Payton stayed true to herself and kept her 4 lb frame moving
forward per our state motto.
What she lacked in stature, she made up for in courage by
founding Dogs for Prosperity in 2011. This non-profit started as a way to
provide local dogs in need with food and shelter but became so successful that
it currently manages close to $10 million in assets annually. These funds
continue to help dogs find loving homes, get the help they need in rehab, and
are even used to lobby congress for stricter animal cruelty laws.
When not working tirelessly to help others, Payton enjoyed
her home life with older siblings Bailey and Chelsea until their passing. Her
favorite things consisted of sitting on Chelsea's back, barking incessantly
until she was lifted on to the couch, and attempting to lick every molecule of
Oxygen out of the air.
Payton spent her last days not only struggling with her
physical well being but with the thoughts of all those she couldn't help. She was good to the core and much
like fellow world renown activists Nelson Mandela and Gandhi before her, Payton
may have left this world behind but she altered the zeitgeist in an
unimaginably positive way. She will be missed by thousands in the Rice Lake
community and remembered by millions of others across the globe.
Visitation will be from 6-8p on Friday at Appleyard's Home
for Funerals. Burial service at the Walker Pet Cemetery will commence at 10a on
Saturday with remembrance and vodka/lemonades shortly after burial.
The Walker family asks that instead of sending flowers,
please donate to Dogs for Prosperity or the Eric Needs $$ For A Road Trip in
June Foundation.
