Ann Marie Doolittle remembers the last time she spoke to her daughter Ashley on the morning Ashley disappeared.
“Her last words were, 'I love you' and I said 'I love you too,'" said Ann Marie.
Ashley Doolittle was allegedly kidnapped and killed by her ex-boyfriend, Tanner Flores.
However, Ann Marie is hoping people don't remember how her daughter died, but how she lived. Ann Marie invited us to Ashley’s barn for a glimpse into a day in Ashley’s boots.
“She loved horses, so we were always either going to shows or her royalty events,” said Ann Marie.
The barn is where Doolittle feels her daughter's presence with the help of Ashley’s horse, Bubba. Ashley was a loyal FFA and a 4-H member who hoped to major in agriculture business at CSU. Ashley’s undeniable love for riding horses was honored with a riderless horse at Sunday’s Evergreen Rodeo.
Ann Marie says her daughter's love for country living is just part of who she was, she had a full life at just 18.
“She was always smiling, happy and trying to make other people happy,” said Ann Marie.
Ann Marie says she knows her daughter would want her memory to paint smiles on people’s faces.
“I don't think Ashley would want us to sit back and sob. What she would want us to do is to live life and as you ride your horses think of her, remember her,” said Ann Marie.
A GoFund me accounthas been set up in Ashley Doolittle’s name to help pay for the expenses that will help maintain her horses.