Story Published: Nov 5, 2009 at 8:40 PM PST
A couple of weeks back we told you about a terrible car crash on Interstate 82, a mother and her 2-year-old son were killed. A father and newborn survived the crash.
Matt Ulrich is now talking about the legacy his wife Audrey left behind and the work still left to do.
We've gotten to know Audrey Ulrich on Action News through the years.
"My wife whenever she had something to say she would say it as loud as she could," Ulrich said. "She was very driven. Whatever it is she saw fit to do she would do at a 100 percent."
That's how we got to know her. Years back we first featured her as a local business owner. Matt and Audrey own the Barking Lot in Richland.
Audrey was passionate about pets, so much that she spent her off time writing for a national trade magazine for pet groomers. But on the local level, her passion made a dog park in Richland happen.
The dog park was Audrey's dream, but it's not over yet. This summer the Richland City Council voted to expand the temporary off-leash dog park into a permanent one.
But the work isn't over, the master plan for the Badger Mountain Community Park calls for 5 acres split between space for larger and for smaller dogs, including permanent fences and better parking access.
That takes money and that's what Audrey and her dog park society were working on.
Matt Ulrich promises, the work will go on.
"To get complacent and say enough is enough that's where my wife comes in and speaks up," Ulrich said.
The group is speaking up now that Audrey's gone, they've already gone to the city to request naming rights to honor Audrey.
A gesture that already is giving comfort to Matt and his family.
"For me, losing my wife is a big hole and I lost my son as well." Having my other son in good shape has been a great solace," he said. "For the community, losing Audrey should not be a hole because she gave so much and did so much and was a focal point for so much."
An account has been set up at Bank of the West, if you would like to help the family with funeral and medical costs. Just say it's for the "Ulrich Family."
And a public memorial will take place later this month. The family is planning on Nov. 21 but have not set a location yet.
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