Catherine F. Brey-Marler

Catherine F. Brey-Marler, 80, of Grand Forks, ND died Monday, May 25, 2015 in Altru Hospital, Grand Forks. Catherine Florence Cox was born on May 19, 1935 the daughter of Sy and Dorothy Cox. She grew up and graduated from Grand Forks Central High School. She married Vincent Brey on July 24, 1954 in Grand Forks, ND. Vincent passed away in 2000. She married Thomas Marler on May 19, 2002 in Grand Forks. Thomas passed away in 2014. Catherine owned and operated the LaParfumerie in the South Forks Plaza. She was a co-founder of the Humane Society in Grand Forks and also served as an American Kennel Club (AKC) licensed judge for many dog shows in the United States, Canada and England. Dogs were a large part of Catherine's life starting at a very young age. She bred Champion Bloodhounds for many years and became an expert in the breed. She not only bred dogs but also showed them and then went on to become an AKC judge. She was for many years the only licensed AKC judge in the state of ND. She was the author of the book entitled "The Complete Bloodhound" and wrote a monthly column for the magazine "Popular Dogs." Catherine was involved in and was an officer or board member of the Grand Forks Kennel Club and the Bloodhound Club of America. She started the first Therapy Dog program in Grand Forks and was active in it until her husband became ill. Christmas was her favorite holiday of the year, and for over thirty-five years, she opened her home to people that needed a place to go Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. She and her husband Vincent were foster parents to 27 foster children. Catherine is survived by her son Kelly Brey of Grand Forks; daughter Shelley (James) Olson of Grand Forks; foster daughter Shannon Rocker, New York; brother Jack (Betty) Cox of Colorado; sister Kathleen (Roger) Breadsley, Fargo; a granddaughter Jaime (Brad) Rutherford of Virginia; one great-grandchild, Olivia; and foster grandchildren Danielle Rocker, Cameron Rocker, Abigail Reynolds and Brianna Reynolds. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother Bill; sister Mary Lou Nagel and her husbands Vincent and Thomas. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to Bloodhound Rescue www.americanbloodhoundclub.org; Take the Lead www.takethelead.org; or the Grand Forks Dog Training Club www.grandforksdogtrainingclub.org. Funeral services will be on Monday, June 1, 2015 at 10:30 AM in the Wesley Methodist Church, Grand Forks. Visitation will be for the hour before the service in the church. Interment will be Memorial Park South Cemetery, Grand Forks.