April 18, 1937 – September 27, 2023
Written By: Andrea Meloon
This is a memorial for Barbara Gossett, a tremendous girl, who remained passionate in her love of dogs and the game of purebred dogs for over 65 years.
I first met Barbara in 2004 after getting my first Papillon canine. I really was downsizing to a toy breed having been a breeder of Akitas for over 20 years. I by no means had an Akita growl at a decide. However, the primary time I put my Papillon canine on the desk for Eugene Blake to look at – he growled at him. I believed, oh possibly he didn’t hear him, however he did. He appeared proper at Cooper and mentioned, “You are awfully cute but I can’t put you up growling at a judge.” I apologized and defined that I solely had him for every week and he had gotten very hooked up to me. As I walked out of the ring, I used to be advised to speak to the Papillon woman, Barbara Humphries Gossett. We have been pals ever since!
Barbara wished yet one more particular in her profession; we had bought a Phalene we had hoped could be that particular. With some doubt, she took on the problem of displaying him. Within two years, he grew to become #5 Breed & All Breed Papillon for 2021. We had such nice occasions; we loved sharing means and some glasses of wine. We talked dogs on a regular basis. It wasn’t till she requested me to be her medical POA that I discovered of her inoperable mind tumor. Along with my two expensive pals, Cheryl Maass and Susan Swan, we helped Barbara make the transfer from California to Arizona to be nearer to all of us. It was throughout that point, we came upon extra about her superb profession in dogs. Barbara by no means turned down a possibility to journey; she traveled everywhere in the world! She visited greater than twelve international locations; Asia was her favourite vacation spot. Barbara particularly cherished the Crufts Dog Show expertise.
While cleansing out one in every of Barbara’s closets at home, I discovered containers – many containers of canine photographs. She had a number of canine work and prints on her partitions in her home however by no means a wall depicting all of her wins. I got here throughout an old newspaper article entitled, “Last Year’s Winner Retired.” In my analysis, I discovered the excerpt beneath written by Pat Gleeson and printed on February 14, 1977 within the New York Times.
”Barbara Humphries of Alpine, California, the handler who gained the Non-Sporting Group at Westminster in 1976 with CH Montmartre Super Lad, a black Miniature Poodle, mentioned Super Lad was retired final spring as an English, Bermudian, Mexican, and American Champion with many teams and a number of other Bests in Show. Miss Humphries was grooming a Toy apricot Poodle referred to as Toby and mentioned she anticipated to spend your entire day grooming. ‘I’m awfully glad the climate is healthier than it was two weeks in the past. It’s actually good now however I really assume we introduced it from California.”
Barbara cherished California and cherished her husband Dave Gossett, the love of her life.
Barbara by no means talked about all her accomplishments, wins, Best In Shows, or honors. She simply wished to be Barbara; she didn’t need anybody to fuss over her. Don’t get me mistaken, she cherished others to cook dinner for her and loved eating out at a restaurant. That was the one time we might fuss over her.
Quaker Oats named Barbara Handler of the Year in 1975 from the Non-Sporting Group for her unbelievable 12 months profitable 70 Group First wins with stunning black Miniature Poodle, CH Montmartre Super Lad, owned by Mrs. R.F. Tranchin. She not solely acquired this award on the annual 1976 Ken-L Ration Award dinner held within the Empire State Ballroom on the Grand Hyatt New York Hotel, she was additionally awarded Best Of Breed with Supe Lad beneath Mr. Ed Bivin over 24 different Minis. Super Lad and Barbara went on to win the Non-Sporting Group on the 1976 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show!
In 1984, Dorothy Hagemen grew to become a Co-owner of CH Bar King’s Scintilla, “Scin.” Barbara dealt with Scin to the highest profitable Non-Sporting canine in 1985. Again, Barbara Humphries was awarded Handler Of The Year from the Non-Sporting Group and acquired her second Ken-L Ration Award on February 8, 1986 within the Empire State Ballroom on the Grand Hyatt New York Hotel. The photograph beneath depicts: Kathy Poe, Scin’s Breeder, actress Jennifer O’Neill, the visitor speaker, Dorothy Hageman, Scin’s Owner, Barbara Humphries, Scin’s Handler, and Thomas Rohr, Ken-L Ration Professional Sales Manager on the evening of the 31st Annual Ken-L Ration Awards Dinner.
In 1987, Barbara confirmed CH Bar King’s Scintilla on the Poodle Club of America National Specialty the place Scin was awarded Best of Breed beneath Breeder Judge Anne Rogers Clark. Ms. Clark later wrote for the Poodle Variety Magazine, August-September 1987, Poodle Club of America Issue: “The Miniature Bitch, Ch. Bar King’s Scintilla, was well up for the win. She was mature, honest, glamorous and in the peak of physical and mental condition. She was and is one of the most correct Poodles being shown today in my opinion…”
Barbara dealt with CH Bar King’s Scintilla to 80 Group First wins to earn Barbar Handler Of The Year for the third time. She acquired this prestigious award from Dogdom Handler Of The Year introduced by the Gaines Dog Care Center.
In 1994, on the age of 12, CH Bar King’s Scintilla gained the Poodle Club of America National Specialty once more as a Veteran beneath Judge William Trainor. That 12 months, she defeated twenty-six veterans alone incomes the prospect to compete for Best of Breed.
There are numerous tales and wins, a number of Breed wins, Best In Specialty Show wins, and National Specialty wins Barbara achieved over her profession. Of course, my favorites have been with our personal Papillon (Phalene), GCHS CH La Ren Jasper In Moonlight, incomes 4 Best In Specialty Show wins and ending 2021 as a Top 5 Breed & All Breed Papillon. His Top 5 Breed rating earned him an invite to the 2022 Westminster Kennel Club Dog present. What an honor for us! One photograph beneath depicts Barbara’s love for the game of purebred dogs after her lengthy profession as knowledgeable handler. Taken by Curtiss Smith, it reveals Barbara and Jasper being awarded a Group First. That day, I used to be working on the hospital and couldn’t attend the canine present. When Barbara referred to as me to share the outcomes, I bought a giant dinner and drove to the Arizona Fairgrounds in Phoenix at 8:30 pm after working all day on the hospital. We had an exquisite celebration dinner with Barbara and Jasper. Barbara’s was the one RV within the parking zone! Watching Barbara and Jasper within the ring was poetry in movement. We thank Barbara for the fabulous trip her and Jasper took us on in 2021.
Barbara, we thanks in your experience in displaying and caring for the dogs over the years however most significantly in your friendship and the grace you’ve all the time proven to so many individuals. Looking again in any respect the fabulous canine photographs of you from 1957 via 2022, your love of the game is ever current all through your 65-year profession. It reveals greater than you realize! Just holding a canine in your lap brings a smile to your face and to your coronary heart.
In her previous few months, due to Barbara’s medical situation and strain on the mind, talking usually was a rarity. Despite that, when my two expensive pals and I went to go to Barbara on the Care Facility, she appeared proper at us as we have been walking in her room and mentioned, “Well, who won Best In Show?” Barbara was a real canine individual to the very finish. She was a really expensive good friend to many who had the pleasure of realizing her. Handlers, judges, and plenty of of her pals have been shoppers with 60+ 12 months friendships. It has been a privilege to know Barbara and name her my good friend. I do know her pals would say,” It has been an exquisite “Dog Show Circuit of Life.”
We Love You Barbara!
Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=273191
