Diane Buckland - March 17, 1933 - April 12, 2014
“It is with great sadness and heavy heart that I write to you this morning. Earlier this morning Diane left us after a lengthy battle with COPD. At this time I am reminded of a story I read some time ago… about the “dash”, you know the one - between the day someone arrives on this earth and they leave. And what a wonderful “dash” Diane had! An international judge who loved to travel and judge beautiful dogs worldwide, an accomplished breeder with over 60 champions under the Tarawood prefix, breeder of the sire of the 1975 Westminster K.C, best in show boy… Dudley, secretary and treasurer of the Old English Sheepdog and Owner’s Club of Canada for many years and mother to 4 wonderful and accomplished sons and daughters and a loving grandmother to her grandsons. As her illness slowed her down physically in the past few years Diane turned her attention and energy to accumulating an incredible compilation of the history of our beloved breed, spending hours upon hours researching and gathering OES pedigrees, some dating as far back as the 1800’s. She also wrote 2 books which contained pedigrees, statistics and stories from Canadian breeders… culminating in a thorough history of the Canadian OES. Yesterday afternoon Joy Griffith and I visited with her for what would be the last time and all though she was not awake we believe she heard us as we brought her up-to-date with all that is going on in the dog world; as well I had the privilege and pleasure of presenting her with a “Life Time Achievement” award on behalf the OESOCC. Her daughter, Cindy, Cindy’s husband David and dear friend Nancy Footitt were with us. Rudy was on the visit too, after all she was his great, great, nana… and she was able to run her fingers through his head coat, he licked her hand back, we all shed a tear. I am truly going to miss my friend and mentor, her calls and e-mails and our visits will remain in my heart for ever… Rest easy my dear friend and may you be surrounded by all those OES who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge before you. Adele “ I had posted to advise the community of Diane’s illness almost two years ago. Fortunately she defied the odds and remained with us for much longer than had originally been expected, and for the most part that two years had a reasonably good quality of life for Diane. Her final years were spent in an assisted living/retirement home which for the most part she enjoyed as she recounted to me during several phone calls over that time. I would like to thank both Adele and Joy for their devotion in visiting Diane on an almost uninterrupted weekly basis and for sending updates on Diane’s physical condition and more importantly her overall well being and energy. Diane’s name and her Tarawood’s Kennel name have been part of my life since I was a teenager whose greatest desire was a Bobtail. At that time having a Tarawood’s dog was the greatest hope of a Canadian Bobtail lover. It would however be over 3 decades before I finally met Diane in person when Michele and I visited her to adopt our beloved Virgil Tiberius in late Sept 2002. My first direct dealing with Diane were e-mails beginning in the spring of that year when I was canvassing OES breeders seeking to become a client so as to start our family pack. Based on my prior experience with Bobtails, my desire to have a show potential puppy and I suspect my sharing photos of my beloved Punk with her she not only accepted me as a client but, as she would later confirm when I directly asked, advanced me over a large portion of her already extant waiting list, including Doug and Linda Smith of SilverSpar Kennel in Edmonton. Thank You Diane! For all her accomplishments and accolades Diane was ever humble and deferred much credit to others. In spite of her often saying Virgil was Virgil because of how he was raised by Michele and I, the fact remains she bred a quality dog and she alone deserves all the credit for giving us the solid base upon which we raised and formed our special boy. Diane was also honest and forthright in all she did including making the heartbreaking decision to end her breeding line after just over 50 years when CA somehow infiltrated what had always been a healthy and vibrant breeding program. Few would be as honest and true to ideals and ethics at such a high personal cost. Most of us know Diane only through her dogs. Over the years I have known her she did however occasionally speak of her family and in those few moments her love and dedication to her family came thorough with both force of conviction and a mothers, wife’s and grandmother’s love and devotion. This grand lady was a complete and special person who has touched many and indeed improved the lives of those in her “corner of the world “. I hope I am not overstating my relationship with Diane when I call her a friend, but that is how I feel about her, and that is the loss with which I must now cope. Rest a while my friend, enjoy the love of all your dogs who await at the Rainbow Bridge and then begin to take the next steps on your eternal journey. That we will meet again I am sure, but when and where we will meet on our eternal journeys are the challenges and joys. For a while Diane and only for a while until we see each other again. Love Carl At Diane’s request there will be no funeral or celebration of her life. As Adele wrote in another e-mail “ … instead each of us will take a moment when we are ready to reflect on her life, her indomitable spirit, her accomplishments and unwavering love of our beloved breed. …”. I will stop for a few minutes and specifically/purposely reflect on Diane and what she means in my life on Wed 16 Apr 14 at 20:00 hrs EDT. If anyone else is so inclined to do the same at that time we can consider it an informal Bobtail community celebration of our time with Diane. For anyone who wishes to send a note of condolence to her family it can be sent to her daughter Cindy at: Cindy and David Hoskins, 1345 Sherwood Forest Rd., R.R.# 5, Bracebridge, Ontario P1L 1X3 Sincerely Carl |
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| Thank-you Carl... Meaningful words and beautifully written for my friend Diane . Joy Griffiths |
| Sad news another wonderfull person in the breed now up there with the angels. Condolences to all dianes family & friends  Lisa Australia |
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