This has devastated our family in EVERY WAY, emotionally, mentally, physically and financially, leaving us no money for essentials! For that reason, and. MOST IMPORTANTLY, in order to hopefully start a small trust for his 7 y ear old daughter, Starla, we are keeping this fundraiser/campaign open for a little bit longer. 

Although we were able to meet our initial goal, we had set the goal VERY LOW. It only covered the cost of cremation ($1,550 and half of the obituary ($150 deposit PLUS $175 a day. We paid for 3 days, and only got two, and one of them was wrong, leaving his maternal grandparent out. I've been back & forth w/The Advocate, trying to get a refund, but, so far, they are not being cooperative. How do I get that $175 back?

If not for the support of friends and loved ones, plus using all the funds I had available, cash donations,etc., we wouldn't have been able to have the beautiful flowers, urn, lockets, pictures, food, etc for the Celebration of Life, service that we had for Ricky “Cutter.” He deserved that beautiful service with the amazing slide show his sister, Lindsay put together! I would not have given him anything less than the beautiful and dignified service we had. "Cutter" was and is soooo cherished & we could not, with a clear conscious, have a service without those things/without dignity.

"Cutters" Richard (Ricky) Fowler's service cost at least 3 times the achieved goal, but was was worth every penny to give my son the beautiful service he so deserved. I miss him more than words can say. I CAN say this:   Heroin addiction is a death sentence! My baby boy was only 29 years old and left behind a 7 year old daughter & so many others who loved him dearly! It's been 4 weeks since I got that horrible "death" call, but it feels like yesterday! Every day someone else dies! We must stop this madness!! Somehow, God has given me strength I did not have 2 years ago! I have to be healthy and alive for Ricky (Cutter's) little girl! She is my precious part of him that I will love, protect and cherish the rest of my days.

I would like to share the words of a close family friend; that I shared at Rick's/Cutter's service, and that were shared with me just a weeks after his death: She said; ““I’ve thought of Rick a lot this week, as most of us have.

I knew Rick best in the days when everyone called him Little Ricky. These were days of his adolescence and some of the early teenage years.

Rick would visit us on occasion, spending the night or even joining us for a trip to my hometown. I remember on one ride home from Thibodaux, I offered him $5 if he could manage to NOT talk for 10 minutes. Keep in mind the trip was only a little more than and hour ;-). He was a non -stop chatterbox- a whirling dervish like no other!

I also remember Rick as a grateful person. He was always in excited awe when given just about anything- even a simple trip to McDonald’s. He was the kind of person who made you feel good about yourself for just about anything you offered him. He as always full of Oh Man’s and Oh Wow’s.

He had a smile, a great big smile, but i t was his grin that captured you. Whomever wrote a “twinkle in his eye” was surely writing about Rick. But it was his boyish and mischievous grin that grabbed you. He always appeared to have some great and wonderful secret to tell, but with an “I’ll never tell” tacked on.

Perhaps my greatest remembrance of Rick was his art. Even at the early age of 10, he created these incredibly detailed drawings. Good stuff that spoke to his potential. When he shared these with you, you automatically saw his future as architect, designer, artist….The last time I saw Rick was for Joe’s 14th or 15 th birthday 6 or 7 years ago. We invited him to Jay’s BBQ for the birthday dinner celebration. Rick showed up with his best friend, his brother in every way but blood- Henry. Rick was happy, truly happy that night.

Rick was so much more than his addiction. And honestly, he was happy every time I saw him. I suppose because we were not very close, I never saw the sad Rick, the lost Rick...but I’m sure it was there. I know he lived a life of losses before his 20 th birthday.

Recently, he lost his beloved Henry in a senseless crime. Those people who knew rick well, say he never came back from that loss.

I was very lucky to know him most as Little Ricky, long before the streets took him. And that’s the way I’ll hold on to his memory.””

We are so grateful to all who have donated, and anyone willing to help this family in any way. even the smallest donation is appreciated beyond words. I very sincerely love you all so much!!