Farmington Presbyterian Manor
APRIL 2022
Local artist finds renewed inspiration in retirement Chaplain’s Corner
Celebrate your life By Greg Schmidt, chaplain, Newton Presbyterian Manor
Editor’s Note: We continue to share chaplain messages from sister PMMA® communities in a nod to our roots in the Presbyterian Church. This month, we feature Greg Schmidt, chaplain at Newton Presbyterian Manor. Dean with some of his First Place winners.
Back in the 1960s, Farmington resident Dean Burns was what you might call an aspiring artist. However, like many of us, life got in the way. “For years I was buried in my work,” said Dean. He was a school administrator and teacher in public education for 33 years and then worked for Central Methodist University for 11 years before retiring in 2006. Thanks to a traveling art exhibit brought to Area Mineral College by the school’s librarian—and Dean’s wife—the newly retired, former artist suddenly found his creative fire rekindled. The exhibit, sponsored by the Smithsonian and titled Barn Again!, traced the history of farming in the United States and made both Dean and his wife
Dean Burns – continued on page 4
Last week, I did a little soil preparation in a small, kidneyshaped garden spot that I’m developing which will one day soon be filled with Canna rhizomes and Dahlia tubers. As I was working, I looked down and said, “Yes! I see you!” to about 15-20 tender 1” to 1.5” green Crocus and Tulip shoots just beginning to peek out from under their blanket of soil and snow! “New life” is amazing, isn’t it?!
New life – continued on page 2
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