This is Pusskie, an incredible farm cat who is dearly loved and will be missed by our family.

Pusskie lived with my Dad and Stepmother for thirteen long, fulfilling years. He spent most of his life in the Missouri outdoors, roaming the timber and chilling out on the back porch, as seen in the photo below.

Pusskie, or Pussk as he was often called, was everyone's best friend. He always enjoyed a pat on the head or a belly rub. He loved the attention until he decided it was enough, then he would practically shred your hand off or attempt to remove a portion of your face!

I recall many walks through the woods, during the daytime and at night, with Pusskie following close behind. He was like a dog - always wanting to tag along on our outdoor activities. He camped down at the pond with us many nights. On the cold evenings he would sleep with me in my bus I had parked beside the pond. Some nights I would be alone, staring at a fire enjoying a brew, when suddenly I would see two small green eyes glowing in the dark. It would startle me, but I quickly realized it was Pussk coming down to sit by the fire with me.

(I wanted to include one of my favorite pictures of Pusskie tagging along with me on a winter walk through the woods, but thanks to imgsafe.org sucking and being worthless, I lost that image.)

But he was a survivor, and navigated the outdoors without a problem. It helped that he had a Great Pyrenees as a best friend, who helped to keep the wild animals away. (Again, no photo.) They were the best of companions, until "Buddy", the Great Pyrenees, fell victim to a coyote attack and died from his injuries.

Dad, who has moved to Kansas, said that he never saw Pusskie on the highway. He always stayed a safe distance away. But something lured him that direction, and in his old age perhaps, he was too slow to avoid a speeding car. He was recovered from the roadside for a proper burial.