I am not quite sure how we became good friends…but we were…she was the better of the two of us…That I know…and Of course the “brains of the outfit”! I smile as I remember that story…
I had borrowed some sheep years ago…turns out the fellow I borrowed them from needed to treat the sheep feet and so he sent me (I did not know how to use) the medicine to spray on the feet…As I unloaded them a few at a time (well that was the plan) I would spray them so I knew which had not been treated.
Reba came up to oversee the operation… because I called and asked her to come … she was a good friend…as the unloading began it quickly got out of control and I had sheep everywhere! With no idea who had been treated…With Reba’s calm, studied, matter of a fact way …she proceeded to bring calm and focus along with the information of who needed treatment.
Thus she became “The Brains of the Outfit!”
Reba studied things, dogs, sheep, horses, cows, people…saw what was there…was a good judge I think…
What did she “see” or understand I never knew exactly or how…and many conversations were on this subject. She always said she could not tell me it was just something she saw and had always had “a gift”…I have since come to understand a bit…And like to think I have some of her ability, but in a different way. I have for sure learned to look, watch, wait, listen, and try to see!
Reba was a Reba! One of a kind. She quilted! Milked goats and was a good hand at milking…It has taken me a long time to get good enough to squirt milk out of a teat. (you need to be able to do this sometimes for the sheep to unclog the teat or it will become infected and no good)…She would come up and help me with a ewe that had a problem and liked to squirt me when I was not looking. This may sound odd to some but trust me anyone that has been round dairy animals will understand and laugh!
I first met Reba Stegall thru the purchase of a registered English Shepherd in 1997. Well… I spoke to her on the phone about a litter out of her Sadie and Rebel Jr. We went down and looked at the puppies when they were a few days old. We met her husband Richard then, Reba was at work. When we went back to pick my puppy up early again Reba was at work. Richard was there.
I do not remember why we went to see Reba and met her in person a few years latter. What I recall standing in her backyard was a stout woman in a t shirt and pants. She had English Shepherds running round, a couple of Rotties in pens, lots of chickens and goats!
Latter thru the years she attended our English Shepherd Gatherings…
Reba Stegall was a good old time English Shepherd Breeder. My Boobie Dog came from her. He was a good, good dog! If you look in the ESCR you will see many of her good dogs . She always said she did not have a line…but bred on other peoples lines her best dogs.
DALLAS :
She knew so many old breeders in the Monroe area from long ago as Reba’s love of the breed began when she was a girl and had a English Shepherd German Shepherd cross.
I could tell many tales of my Good Friend…
But The Greatest Honor was to have her call Me Friend…
I will say this…The Good Lord above called a good one home November 1, 2020…
I will miss her calls and visits…
Go Rest High Upon That Mountain my Good Friend!