Bloomingdale East Mom, Pit Bull Lover Remembered

Fellow pit bull lovers are mourning the loss of their friend, Kristi Nicole Hunley-Pfifer, who was killed in a motorcycle crash at 6:41 a.m. Monday, June 3.

Phifer, 29, of 1913 River Crossing Dr., in Bloomingdale East, was the mother of two young children and served in the Army, according to her friend, Rose Hope, also a Bloomingdale East resident.

"I'm in shock," said Hope upon learning of Phifer's sudden death. "I was just thinking about her. It's such a tragedy."

The two pit bull owners met a couple of years ago through an organization they both belonged to, the Pit Bull Crew dog rescue, an organization dedicated to finding responsible homes for the much-maligned dogs, and the Pit Bull Ambassadors of Hillsborough County Animal Services. 

"Because of their reputation, it's difficult to hire a pet sitter for pit bulls so Kristi asked me to pet-sit her dog, Sonny," said Hope. "She just loved that dog. She lived exactly a half mile from me and she'd often walk Sonny by my house."

Hope said her heart goes out to the two young children Phifer leaves behind. 

"I can't imagine what they're going through," she said. 

Phifer worked in human resources at Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base and was on her way to work when the accident occurred.

She has just purchased her motorcycle, according to Hope. Her mother, who was staying with Phifer, warned her about taking the motorcycle to work today because rain was in the forecast, said Hope.

The principal of Cimino Elementary School where Phifer's two children attended school, Cindy Dowdy, was on hand to comfort the family this morning.

Funeral services are pending. 

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Bloomingdale Woman Dies in Bayshore Motorcycle Crash