Matilda Chevy Dees-Young

Last Friday, Nathan, Sacha, and I said farewell to our very best girl, Matilda. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you take a moment to read a bit about her life.

Matilda Chevy Dees-Young
March 5, 2009 - June 26, 2022

Matilda Chevy Dees-Young was born on March 5, 2009, in Macon, GA on a hot 89° day with a total of 12 brothers and sisters to a mom recently saved from giving birth on the streets by a good samaritan. She lived with her birth family for a total of 7 weeks before finding her forever home with her human mom, Koryn Young, and human dad, Nathan Dees on April 28, 2009.

She was always a little bit of an asshole.

She managed to wrangle her way into many hearts in her short life. Her youth was spent at the Wagon Wheel House. This is where she met her adopted mom, Sadie (RIP), a golden retriever that would take none of her puppy shit, and made her into a semi-decent teenager. She spent those early years befriending neighbors, porch sitting like a champ, chasing bikes down the street, hashing through the woods, and learning basic commands to show off to guests. She killed two squirrels, much to her mom's dismay, and entertainment to her dad. She made many friends and would be the party planner at the dog park, always finding the shyest dog, and encouraging them to join the party. She would not always be the life of the party, but in her younger years, you could count on it.

Matilda was never wanting for a home. Her main home on Bond Street (just an alley away from the Wagon Wheel House) is where she claimed. However, unlike most humans, she had two Summer homes and about 15 vacation homes. You might find her out and about with her parents or playing with Kaleigh, Cody, or Thai but you are just as likely to find her out and about with just about anyone else who picked her up for walks, to go to the Farmer’s Market, to play ultimate frisbee, to wander Rose Hill Cemetery or just to hang on their porch. Some favorite alternate homes belonged to Mary and Gary, Sacha and Thai, Jordan, Dave…etc.

A fierce watchdog, any noise surrounding her home would set her into a frenzy. Intruders beware, her bark could set your blood cold. Each and every day, she would ferociously defend her home from the mailman. It worked, her family was never murdered by the mailman or anyone else.

She had a knack for staring into your soul when she wanted something.

“If Matilda were a pie, she would taste cute”.

Storms and Fireworks were her nemeses - on any given day or night, should there be either one of these, she would find refuge in the Harry Potter bathroom she and her mom would retire to escape the harms of a storm. Even when her mom was not in the house, Matilda knew where to go to remain safe.

Matilda never met a walk she did not want to be on, a ball she did not want to chase, a squirrel or cat she did not want to kill, a treat she did not want to partake in. Cuddling was not her favorite, but she would let you do it because it made you happy.

Children brought her joy.

There are many photos of the late Matilda, but photogenic she was not. Matilda always looked worried. She smiled when there was joy in the room.

Her nicknames included Tail on Trail, Tilda Girl, Missy FooFoo, Girly girl, Lick ‘n Snort, and asshole. And on occasion, there was slut puppy - but her family is sure that was a lie,

Beyond her love of her family and friends, Matilda’s favorite activity of all time was floating the Ocmulgee River. Edit: Matilda’s favorite activity was swimming down the Ocmulgee River. Whether just with her family or a group of people, even though it was inconvenient, you could not leave her home. She would swim back and forth on the river from side to side for hours. She refused the safety of the float and begrudged the life vest her parents made her wear.

On June 26th, 2022, she passed away peacefully overlooking the Ocmulgee River after spending her last hour on earth frolicking in the same river. We hope she was met by Sadie, Rayvn, Brady, and her Nana Mary in heaven.

Matilda girl, we will miss you. You were a good girl. We hope you are running free in the mountains and swimming free in the river.