Phyllis Carol 'Rusty' Wingate, 62

Phyllis Carol ‘Rusty’ Wingate, 62, passed away Sunday, May 24, 2009, in Coeur D’ Alene from lung cancer.

Rusty was a beloved friend, wife, mother, daughter and sister.

She leaves her husband, Robert Bruce Wingate; brother Bobbie Lee Holley; daughters Kelly O. Fisk and Shanon K. Knickerbocker; sons Mace Barrett Burke. and Douglas James and Thomas Edward Wingate; and best friends and faithful companions, her animals.

Rusty was a successful dog-trainer and breeder. She raised winning show and field trial dogs. Her latest endeavor was sledding and carting with her Bernese Mountain Dogs Pepper, Six, Whiskey and Nitro.

Rusty will be remembered as “the lady walking through Bonners Ferry with a big dog pulling a cart.”  She was a savior to those dogs needing help. A rescue turned excellent guard dog, Reupert, was her latest success story.

Rusty also leaves behind buddies who accompanied her from Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina — Echo, the parrot who will keep her words alive, and Alpo the cat.

Rusty touched many lives. She had a generous heart and will be missed.