Martha Mumford Ashley

Oh Marfy this is so hard to write. I was a techie and that is the reason that I was on Compuserve. I found the Petsforum and I was hooked. I loved interacting with all the users from all over, I learned so much. Then one day I was invited to join staff of the Catsforum and started learning all about Forums from Martha, it was quite an eye opener. I made so many friends on the Catsforum and was lucky to meet at least 5 of them in person and one of those 5 was Martha.

I was one of the lucky ones to be the recipient of Martha's New Orleans hospitality. Martha picked me up at the airport and took me to lunch at a Sushi restuarant (sorry Martha but I still don't care for Sushi). Took me with some of her family to Captain's Table. Then she topped it off with a trip to Bayona, what a wonderful place.

The last time I talked to Martha online we were talking about when Jai her cat got lost. Somone found him and kept him in a room where there was a monkey. The stories we shared..... I only wished it wasn't a last time....

I am going to miss you so much........

Janice Fielder

Oh, Marfy, my sweet, kind, beloved friend, how I cherish our long friendship and miss you! We used to have such long, deep discussions that would range far and wide, since we shared so many interests and life experiences in common. I can't honestly remember if we met in person once or twice, but it really doesn't matter, because we were connected by our hearts. And it wasn’t enough.

But boy, did she ever show me a great time in N'awlins! Zipping around all over creation in her beloved Porsche, and eating the city out of house and home in many of the city's finest restaurants - most notably Bayona. I have a great picture of myself that she took of me there, but regrettably none of the two of us together.

We first met back in the early 90s on the Pets Forum after my beloved cat died, and she was one of many people who educated me about owning and training a dog, leading to getting my first one as an adult in 1994, something I had always thought impossible.

I couldn't even begin to recount all the many conversations we had, or all the topics we covered, just that we had a rare rapport and could talk about anything.

In recent years, we even discussed finding a way to share a home together somewhere, because we both needed some big changes, and we knew we’d have a blast together.

Somehow you never imagine friends like this no longer being in your life. It’s hard to believe that we have somehow gotten to “that” age.

She loved you three kids and your own children beyond all measure, and often spoke of you, both of her concerns over the years and deep pride in how you all turned out.

May her memory be forever a blessing, and may your happy memories help bring you peace at this terribly painful time.

I remember when she would read The Jabberwocky to me and how she helped me learn how to swim. I told her about how I work at a shelter and she showed me her new puppy. I remember making jewelry with her and showing her the earrings I made on my own. She taught me so many things.

I remember Nana as a wise and well read woman, and the best grandmother I ever had. I remember going to see all the sights in New Orleans with her. I remeber the last songs I sang to her with Alex playing his guitar. She was one of the best people I ever had the honor of knowing. I will always cherish all the memories I made with her.

Winnie the Pooh says it best: How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.

Its hard to find the words or thoughts to convey how much we love her. I was so nervous to meet her in person for the first time and she was so welcoming. We shared an interest in family history. She definitely got me to try new foods as I have always been a picky eater. She always had time for soooo many questions from my son and her grandson Alex. If you just walked into the room while he was talking to her you would never guess he had probably already spent quite some time asking questions or talking about trains or tornadoes. Kaeleigh I think will find more purpose in her work with cats and Tristan says he's going to start reading more books. We all have so many memories too numerous to mention in the short time we had with her.

I spent many happy hours chatting with Marfy and many visits to our beloved N'Awlins staying with her and my other friend, also departed, who became a dear friend of hers too, Norman. We toured the city, went to museums and concerts and of course had some of the best meals I've ever had. She even traveled, daughter in hand to NYC for the Westminster dog show. I'll always miss Marfy.