Ripken Heath

Ripken Heath, 13, is waiting for her family at the Rainbow Bridge. She joins her sister, Junebug, and cousins, Murphy, Tallie, and Russ. Ripken, named for baseball legend Cal Ripken, Jr., grew up with a baseball in her mouth. As a young dog, she could often be found retrieving balls in a field with her parents. She would play for hours without tiring. As she grew older, she grew wiser. When Junebug was in her seat, she would bark out the window as if something had her attention. Junebug would jump out of the seat and run outside. Ripken would then climb in the vacated seat. In her elderly years, she became a begger. She expected every person who walked in the door to give her a treat, and she wouldn't stop barking at them until they did. Once she had her treat, she would go do her own thing. She always learned how to work the system. She had a special bond with her mom created when her dad was away from home for work, but she had an inseparable bond with her dad. For the last 13 years, there is rarely a night they didn't share bed space. He was her human, and she was his companion. Ripken is survived by her parents, Jeremy and Tara Heath; brothers, Jax and Auggie; nana and papa, Jan and Butch Heath; mawmo and pawpo, Alton and Linda Holifield; fur cousins, Tootsie, Hershey, Cleo, Bentley, and Zoey; and many other friends and family. While her passing was sudden, her memory will last forever.