Tricia Harrington

Funeral service: 10AM Wednesday June 12, 2013 at Sparkman Richardson Funeral Chapel. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Sparkman Richardson Funeral Home.

Memorials: If you desire to make a donation in her honor to her favorite cause, please consider Metroplex Mutts at 4925 Greenville Ave, Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75206. For more information, see the website at metroplexmutts.org.

Born in Memphis, TN on June 12, 1950, Tricia lived with her family mostly in Memphis, but for a short time in Jackson, MS and Mobile AL. Then for a few of her teenage years, the family lived in Toluca Lake (North Hollywood), CA before returning to Memphis. During her youth, she loved to play baseball and softball and was active in dance and ballet as well. She appeared in her North Hollywood CA High School plays and put her dancing skills to good use. When the family returned to Memphis, she graduated from Germantown High School. She attended Memphis State University (now University of Memphis). During her senior year of high school and first year of college, she became somewhat of a local celebrity when the Memphis ABC-TV affiliate station had a music show and she was one of the featured dancers. She became known as “Princess Wahoo.” She was a member of Phi Mu sorority while at Memphis State. She later moved with her husband to Baton Rouge LA and gave birth to her son Chad.

She moved to the Dallas area in 1972 and worked very hard in various office positions. She used her talents to gain positions in advertising sales with both the old Dallas Times Herald and the Dallas Morning News for many years. Eventually she developed her own graphic design business. She was remarkable in that she raised Chad as a single mother without ever asking help from anybody and produced a very fine young man.

In addition to her strong work ethic, she enjoyed life. She used her dancing skills yet again to appear regularly in the Dallas Press Club Variety shows throughout the years. She met the love of her life David and they were married in 1992. She also was very active in USSSA softball, both as a player and an umpire, a passion she shared with David. She enjoyed music of all genres. She loved all sports and, although she enjoyed all trips they took, one special trip with David was to see the Cowboys in the SuperBowl XXVII in Pasadena, CA. She was also an exquisite cook.

She always loved dogs, but somewhere in her busy life, she developed a very special passion for rescuing dogs. She came home one day with Cici, an adorable Dalmation who was soon accompanied by Cody. Then a casual walk in the neighborhood led to the sighting of a little fellow named Stanley. Although not taken home on that first walk, on the next day’s walk Stanley became Stanley Harrington. Those three household pets led to a mission by Tricia that ultimately rescued hundreds of dogs throughout the DFW Metroplex. In order to be as effective as possible, she helped organize Metroplex Mutts. It is often said that people can be truly judged by the way they treat the helpless among us and what better criteria is there than abandoned dogs? There are so many wonderful stories and the reader may want to visit MetroplexMutts.org or visit Tricia’s Facebook page.

While she loved her dogs, her first priority in life was her son Chad. Theirs was a unique and special bond. She loved him so much and was so very proud of him and her granddaughter Carlee.

She loved very much her husband, David who stood by her in everything. They were quite the team whether it was the life they enjoyed together, his support of her rescue work, or her cancer struggle they faced together.

The family would like to thank all of her many friends who were supportive of her efforts with rescuing her precious canine friends and helped her through her illness. In addition, special thanks are extended to the professionals at UT Southwestern who journeyed with her in her fight against the vicious cancer that ravaged her body. Her caring team of nurses who administered chemo treatments (Devrie, Linda, Anna, and many others) exemplify true compassion. Her wish was that everyone would take very seriously the need to have a colonoscopy done as recommended by his or her physician.

She was preceded in death by her parents, father Bill Brotherton and mother LeMoyne Holiman; and father-in-law, Henry Harrington.

Survivors: Husband, David Harrington; son, Chad Todd; brother, Ralph Brotherton and wife Pam; granddaughter, Carlee and nephews Blake and Lance Brotherton; mother-in-law Marjorie Harrington and extended family: step-daughter Sandy Harrington; brothers-in-law James and Gary Harrington and their families; Billy Brotherton’s wife Alice and numerous cousins. There are as well many friends and loving dogs she rescued through her passion.