Chance Shelter of Surprise and A New Leaf help the family of Alexis Rumer leave a legacy in their daughter’s name.
Susan Pendleton is the mother of Alexis Rumer, a beautiful young lady whose life was cut short by a drunk driver on September 12, 2016. Because of Alexis’ love for cats, Susan partnered with Chance Shelter of Surprise to hold a benefit in her name to further Alexis’ legacy of loving and caring for animals. With the one-year anniversary of her tragic day approaching, Chance Shelter is proud to present the First Annual Old Fashioned Picnic Fundraiser benefiting Chance Shelter in Alexis’ memory. This picnic will be held September 16, 2017 from 4–8 pm at Riverboat Bingo at 18300 West Bell Road in Surprise, 85374. There will be fun for the entire family with food trucks, music and dancing, free games, pie eating contest, cake walk, watermelon stand, and vendors selling fun items. Purchase your tickets for $5.00 per person in advance or $8.00 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Pet Club at 15116 North Cotton Lane, at the Links Neighborhood Grill at 18823 North Country Club Parkway in Peoria, at Muscle Makers Grill at 8386 West Thunderbird Road in Peoria, and at the venue, Riverboat Bingo. To know and appreciate Alexis’ legacy, you must first know more about her and Clyde, her orange kitty.
The story of Clyde(s) begins with the lovely Alexis who lived her life to the fullest until the day she flew away. Spunky and with no fear, at just six-years old you could find Alexis riding quads, climbing mountains and swimming in lakes. Alexis had a love for life like no other, and animals were a large part of that love. One day while walking to her car in a parking lot she found a young male orange cat, all alone, looking a bit helpless. She loaded him up and brought him home and from the look in her eyes her family knew they had a new member. Alexis named him Clyde and they became best buds. Alexis cared for Clyde as if he were her child. They cuddled every night and played together every free chance Alexis had. After about a year Clyde unintentionally got out of the house, and was unfortunately never seen again. Alexis was very heartbroken and often talked about Clyde and how she missed him. Little did her family know their journey with Clyde had only just begun.
In the wee hours of September 12, 2016, Alexis was taken from this world after being hit by a drunk driver. All were devastated that her lovely tattoo on her foot, a feather with “Someday I’ll Fly Away” had become a reality, much too soon. Alexis was only 19.
Prior to Alexis’ death her sister, Angela, wanted to go to Hawaii. Angela’s parents were against their daughter traveling so far away from home, but Alexis urged Angela to go and even helped her plan the trip. “Buy the tickets and go, you only live once,” Alexis said to her sister. She did, but never did Angela imagine the unimaginable, that just one week prior to her trip her sister’s light would be cut so short. Heartbroken, grief-stricken and devastated Angela felt there was no way she could go on her trip. Angela’s parents reminded her that Alexis was the only one that wanted her to take the trip, she had to do it for Alexis.
Off to Hawaii Angela went, still filled with grief but in a beautiful place. On her third day in paradise, she visited a Buddhist Temple. An orange cat jumped out right in front of her feet. Angela was in awe and couldn’t believe it, but knew she was right where she was supposed to be. This cat was a spitting image of Clyde, Angela knew it was a sign from Alexis as she shared a love for Clyde and for Buddha. “She was with me and I felt it,” Angela explained.
About six weeks after Alexis’ death her mother, Susan, was in Mexico. Once again, an orange cat made an appearance. This time it jumped out of a tree right onto Susan’s feet. She could not believe it and thought it had to be a message from Alexis that she was alright. Susan took the necessary measures to get the orange cat out of Mexico and home where she could care for it. This cat became Clyde II.
Since then orange cats have jumped out in front of Susan’s car while driving in her neighborhood. A mother cat was found in Susan’s orchard and one cat in her litter was orange. Angela took this male cat and fittingly named him Clyde III. Orange cats always seem to be around Alexis’ family now, the family feels Alexis is always present.
Most recently, while planning Alexis’ memorial picnic, Chance Shelter received a call of a newborn cat whose mother was nowhere to be found. They took this little guy in and yes, he is an orange cat. Don’t worry Alexis, we got him. We will care for him. Thank you for making your presence known. Welcome to the world, Clyde IV.
