Residents took a trip with our Around the World cart to Florida. Staff and residents enjoyed sharing their experiences in Florida, learning fun facts and looking at actual seashells from the beaches of Florida.
Resident Spotlight: Sharon Cox
Sharon Cox was born in Eugene, Indiana to Herschel and Maddie Steele. Sharon had 4 brothers and 4 sisters and was one of the babies of the family. Sharon graduated from High School in Cayuga, Indiana.
Sharon tells us she wanted to be a nurse when she grew up. She even received a college scholarship, but “after 12 years of school she she had enough”. Sharon worked her first job at the Flamingo hair pin factory in Danville, Illinois. She says” the job was very tedious as she had to put each individual hair pin in individual slots”, so the job did not last long for her. After working at Flamingo, Sharon discovered a job that she would stay working at for the next 43 years at Model Star Laundry service. Sharon and a co-worker were dubbed the speed queens as they could each run 2000 sheets per day! She loved her job and always joked with her boss that she “owned” it with as many years as she had worked for him.
Sharon faced a few big world events during her lifetime. When Sharon was a child Polio was a serious problem, but she was blessed to never get it. Sharon has also seen the Korean War, and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Sharon feels that the difference between the youth of today and the youth of when she grew up are stricter rules that her generation had to follow.
Sharon was blessed with one daughter, Crystal who she loves dearly, 3 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren with one on the way!
Sharon’s hobbies include BINGO, working on word search books from her daughter, coloring and working on arts/crafts in her room.
We asked Sharon if she could write a message and put it in a time capsule for youth to find 20 years from now what would she like to say to them, her message is:
Straighten up and follow the rules!
July Birthdays 2020
Residents enjoyed the July Birthday cart by receiving gifts, a birthday cupcake, donuts and a friendly staff singing them Happy Birthday!
Resident Spotlight: Kay Clapp
Kay Clapp was born in O’Fallon, Illinois not far from St. Louis, Missouri to Gene and Delores Elliot. She had one brother named Joe.
Growing up Kay wanted to be an Interpreter for the United Nations. Kay graduated from High School at the Academy of Notre Dame. Kay then went on to attend the Eastern Illinois University with a triple major in Latin American Studies, History, and Spanish. Kay’s first job, as many of us, was babysitting and after that she taught History for High School grades 9-12 at Oakland High School for many years. Kay says the most rewarding part of teaching was trying to make a difference in someone’s life and showing them that history was interesting through the frame of reference. Kay and her husband Dale volunteered through the Brocton Christian Church at Pleasant Meadows visiting with the residents and passing out water.
Kay and her husband Dale eloped in 1971 in San Antonio, Texas and have been married for 49 years. They have one daughter, Sara, and a grandson named Aaron. When asked how they met, Kay says she asked him for a lighter and it was love at first sight!
Kay recalls 3 major events that happened while she was growing up. She recalls the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the first landing on the Moon, and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
I asked Kay if she could write a message to todays younger generation to put in a time capsule to be opened in 20 years what advice would she have for them:
All learning is valuable and do not throw it away just because you do not like the first 10 minutes.
Kay and her husband Dale now both reside with us at Pleasant Meadows. Kays hobbies are reading books and magazines, reading her daily devotionals, watching movies and camping.
Resident Spotlight: Rosemary Byrd
Rosemary was born to Banford Floyd and Lona Gladys Byrd at their home in Syracuse IN. Rosemary had five other siblings, Dolores, Jaunita, Jean, Helen and Bernard. During her younger years she moved to Chrisman, Il. where she still lives to this day. Rosemary has never married and never had any children. She states she is the last Byrd to leave the nest.
Rosemary attended the Chrisman Nazarene Church in Chrisman, IL. where she taught the second grade Sunday School Class.
Rosemary graduated from a small 2 room school called Cherry Point School located south of Chrisman Il. Rosemary first worked as a Nanny for 2 sets of twins. She fondly recalls their names Sammy and Sandra, and Dick and Darlene. After working as a Nanny, Rosemary started working at the Children’s Home in Danville, Il. where she stayed full time and the kids all called her Mama Byrd. She then transferred to the Children’s Home in Paris, Il. and enjoyed her time there the best because of the children. After working at the second Children’s Home location, Rosemary then began working at the television factory Zenith until it’s closing in 1984.
Rosemary stated that the one major event that has happened in her lifetime was the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She states that the difference between the younger generation today and her generation is that all the kids from grade school to high school spoke to one another and that they all got along well.
Rosemary hobbies today include reading her Bible daily, working on word search books and visiting with staff and peers.
I asked Rosemary what advice she has for our younger generation she states “Mind your parents, check who you run around with and check who you marry!”