Janet Elisabeth Larson

LEE — Janet E. Larson, 43, of Lee, died March 6, 2001, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Dover, after a three and a half year battle with cancer.

She was a 1976 graduate of Oyster River High School. She went to the University of New Hampshire, and received a Bachelor of Art degree in chemistry and a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science in 1981, a Master’s degree in science education in 1992, and A.A.S. in applied animal science from the Thompson School in 1996.

She was a lab instructor at the Thompson School, a science and biology teacher at Newmarket High School and Northwood Middle School from 1993 to 2000.

She spent eight years in the U.S. Army as an NBC and ordnance officer, and had tours in Korea, Germany and Operation Desert Storm.

She was very active in the raising and training of working Border Collies with the establishment of Caora Con Kennels in 1968. She won a Dog World Award of Canine Distinction in 1973 with her first dog. In 1976 she was selected as the New Hampshire State Delegate to the National 4-H conference in Chicago for all her outstanding wins with her dog and sheep dog demonstrations at state fairs.

Her correspondence with people all over the world on the breed, led her to start and edit, "Border Collie New" from 1976 to 1994.

During college, she increased her research on Border Collie so extensively, she wrote "The Versatile Border Collie" 1985 (Alpine Press). That book won her the Dog Writers Association of American Book of the Year, 1986.

She completely expanded and revised her book in 1999. "The Versatile Border Collie" (second edition) has been considered the "last word" by people in the border collie, and dog world alike.

Her farm has been the destination for people worldwide for sheep dog trails, herding clinics, and private lessons.

She is survived by her parents, David and Lois Larson of Durham; her brother, Bruce and his wife, Kathy; her sister, Lisa; her brother, Douglas; and nephews Ben and Sam.

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Memorial contributions may be made to the Cocheco Valley Humane Society or Durham Ambulance Corps.