It was a beautiful day to bury a dog.  We had a funeral up at Coon Dog Cemetery today, the organizer is a member of my church and so I was asked to give the invocation which I was happy to do.

Ray Frost brought “the Merch” down from Pennsylvania.  He was a champion Treeing Walker Hound that died sometime last year.  Mr. Frost found out about Coon Dog Cemetery and called down here to ask for information on having his dog reinterred.  Apparently one thing led to another and a funeral was organized and the press called in.

There are stringent rules for having a dog buried there, you have to prove that your dog was a true coon dog.  I’ve heard that there have been dogs exhumed when it was found out they ran deer.  Of course “the Merch” passed muster and was given a plot next to the famous statue of two dogs treeing a raccoon.

Ray and his wife arrived Sunday morning and joined us for worship and dinner afterwards.

Earlier today the casket was taken to the gravesite.  The florist van arrived with the arrangements shortly after.  People gathered and exchanged conversation about hunting or wandered through the graves reading epitaphs and taking pictures.  The pall bearers, some of Ray’s other hounds, waited patiently for the service.  A little before 11 the processional arrived from Tuscumbia. Several ladies dressed in black dresses and hats sat somberly in the front row of folding chairs.  I estimate there were about 200 in attendance (not counting dogs).

As I prepared for the service I discovered how difficult it can be to provide a prayer that is light hearted yet still reverent.  (I focussed on God’s good creation, our enjoyment of the created order and the blessings we receive through nature.)  The service also included some history of the area and the beginnings of the cemetery.  Ray gave the eulogy and told about “The Merch’s” championship career — I believe he got a little choked up towards the end.  Another local minister gave the benediction and the service closed with Taps.  After the burial we shared in good food, good laughs and good memories.

There’s a video on this local station’s site. And here’s the ESPN article.

I should have pictures soon.