Jacqueline Karrh, age 8, (at right) with her sister, Natalie in 2007 at Camp Boggy Creek: a Hole in The Wall Camp. (Photo courtesy Lyda Karrh)

Save the Manatee Club’s thoughts and condolences go out to the Karrh family from Palm City, Florida, whose beloved young daughter, Jacqueline, sadly passed away recently.

As part of Jacqueline’s devotion to wildlife, especially the manatees, her Brownie troop adopted Georgia back in May from the Club’s Blue Spring State Park Adopt-A-Manatee program. Jacqueline’s drawings, along with her determination to make a difference for manatees, are an inspiration to all of us at Save the Manatee Club. It further encourages us to continue to work hard for the protection of Florida’s gentle marine mammals, as Jacqueline would have wished us to do.  

Lyda Karrh, Jacqueline’s mother, shared her daughter’s story with us.    

“Jacqueline was nine-years-old when she passed away on October 2nd of this year. Her favorite animal was the manatee, although she loved all animals and dreamed of being a veterinarian. Jacqueline took art lessons and, of course, liked drawing manatees the most.  

Her enthusiasm for manatees spread throughout her friendships at school, her Brownie troop, and her neighborhood. She convinced her Brownie troop to donate half of the proceeds made from a bake sale they did last year to Save the Manatee Club. This year, she started a Manatee Club in our neighborhood.

As Jacqueline would have wished, and indeed her goal for 2008 was to save manatees, we requested in Jacqueline’s obituary that donations be made to Save the Manatee Club. 

I felt compelled to share Jacqueline’s story with your organization since her short life was so impacted by your group’s mission.  She was an amazing human being, full of compassion and love beyond her years.  Thank you for taking the time to get to know her better.”

Examples of Jacqueline's manatee artwork. (Courtesy Lyda Karrh)

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