Daily Archives: November 17, 2025

Photo by Maryanne Cherry

 

No matter what age you lose a beloved friend it’s still tough!  Chester Roscoe Fortney turned 7 last month!  That’s not that old for even a Golden!  In the last months and days he has been his normal, goofy and very active self!  Then yesterday during a normal trip out to our yard he laid down rolled in the leaves and then had a heart attack and was gone! We all love our dogs and other pets, Chester and I have been constant companions over the last several years as my travel schedule has reduced to very few trips.  When it was just him and myself at home, he was my shadow, everywhere in the house I went he was right on my heels!  Once Sherelene got home from work he switched over to being her shadow for the rest of evenings!

 

I know that he is in heaven, happy as can be, playing with all the other dogs lucky enough to be there and spending time with my son Wesley and life (everlasting) is better than just good!  I’m devastated to not have my friend here with Sherelene and I, but I’m happy that he did not suffer and die from some slow progressing illness.  As hard as it is to lose him, it would have been even worse to see my boy who gave so much to us, suffer, he certainly didn’t deserve that!

 

So, thank you Chester for being world’s greatest dog to me!  Thanks you for being so loving and caring of Sherelene and I,  for making me laugh till my sides split and so proud when you welcomed every guest into your home.  For years I’ve prayed that I would go first, knowing how difficult this would be, but I don’t question God, surely I will see him again, someday!  I love you my pal, see you then!

 

Blessings & treats,

 

Papa