Jeri Lea Hooks, who for many years bred Malamutes under the kennel name of Icefloe,
passed away in early May. She was well-known throughout the soutwest, the Rocky Mountain
area and the midwest. Her Icefloe dogs can be found in the extended pedigrees of
many of today's Malamutes.
When I initially started bumbling my way around the conformation show ring, Jeri was the first person to extend a welcoming hand to me. Most likely appalled by all the mistakes I was making, she took it upon herself to become my mentor. Somehow, by dint of perseverence and hard work, she managed to transform me into a reasonably capable amateur handler. Throughout the years we remained fast friends, sharing good times and bad, and always being able to laugh about the things that happened to us.
Jeri was uniquely inventive. When her first litter was due, on Thanksgiving Day, the mother-to- be decided the ideal whelping place was at the end of an eight-foot tunnel she had excavated under the patio. Jeri didn't agree with the choice of whelping places, but all her coaxing was for naught. The dog remained in seclusion in her tunnel. Not to be defeated by this turn of events, Jeri decided a sacrifice was needed. She tied a long string around one of the turkey's drumsticks and lowered it enticingly into the lair. It worked. The lure of the drumstick overcame all resistance, and the dog came out, to be grabbed by Jeri and deposited in her whelping box.
Jeri stopped breeding Malamutes in the early 1980's, but she had a keen eye for a good dog and a lifelong appreciation and love of the breed. One of the most well-known of all the Icefloe dogs was Ch. Icefloe's Knave of Hearts. I co-owned Juneau, as he was known, with Jeri throughout his life. A lucky photograph of him, taken in my driveway, was published in a book on Malamutes, and has become widely known.
Outside of the world of "dogdom", Jeri loved music and the theater. She was a violinist and sometimes played with various community orchestras. Later in life she traveled extensively and spent a great deal of time in southern Mexico.
The death of a friend always catches us by surprise. We are never ready for it and inevitably think of the things left unsaid. But if I could have a last conversation with Jeri, I would like to tell her how much I valued her friendship. She shared her knowledge so willingly, not only with me but with many others. I was very fortunate to have known Jeri, and I will miss her in the days and years to come.
Jeri is pictured with Am/Can Ch. Taiga's Bagheera ("Panther"). The judge is Ed Bracy.
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Copyright © 1996 Linda Dowdy, last revision 970615