Manor of the Plains Community Matters - August 2022

Manor of the Plains

AUGUST 2022

Meet your neighbor:

Marjory “JoAnne” Mock

JoAnne Mock is one of the newest independent living residents at Manor of the Plains, however she is not entirely new to the community—her husband was previously a resident in health care.

JoAnne grew up on a farm with five older brothers. After they graduated, her father would allow her to drive the five miles to Burrton, Kan. Another nearby town, Haven, had bus service and she rode the bus to Haven High School. It was there that one day the principal called her into his office.

Marjory “JoAnne” Mock is one of the newest independent living residents at Manor of the

“I was so frightened,” said Plains.

JoAnne. “However, he was calling me in to tell me that Hutchinson Junior College was offering me a full scholarship. I was so happy and excited to go to college.”

While at college, a friend of JoAnne’s was interested in a boy named Bruce, but she was just too tall for him so instead, she would talk about JoAnne to Bruce and then talk to Bruce about JoAnne.

“Bruce asked to take me home after the basketball game and that was it,”

Neighbor – continued on page 2

Editor’s Note: In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we regularly feature a column from a PMMA® chaplain in our newsletter. This month’s column comes from Dinah Dutta, chaplain at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor®.

Pause, Breathe, HOPE

By Chaplain Dinah Dutta

I can’t help but share this beautiful song with you as my thoughts are wrapped around 4th of July as I Dinah Dutta write my love note to all of you: The patriotic song, “America the Beautiful.”

In spite of all the chaos, hatred, fear, and much more, I want to sing this song with all my heart. Each word reminds me how privileged and blessed I am to live in this great country.

Please join me in singing: O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Pause, Breathe, HOPE – continued on page 4

Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at ManorOfThePlains.org/covid-19.

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Neighbor – continued from page 1 said JoAnne. “We never dated anyone else.”

and decided to move to Manor of the Plains.

Bruce was attending Kansas State University while JoAnne continued at Hutchinson. She eventually graduated with her associate degree and was named valedictorian of her class.

“I am an independent woman and here, I can be just that,” said JoAnne.

Bruce came home on weekends, but they grew tired of the commute. On February 27, 1948, they decided to get married. Bruce wanted JoAnne to go to Kansas State as well, so she enrolled and obtained her teaching degree.

Shortly after that, the Mocks started their family. Bruce was a certified public accountant and JoAnne found herself very busy as a mother of four.

JoAnne enjoys reading, doing crossword puzzles and watching the birds outside her window. On the patio, JoAnne has a bird feeder and a dog bowl big enough for the birds to take their bath.

“It is fun watching them splash around,” said JoAnne.

In addition to her four children, JoAnne has nine grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

“My family is so very important to

me,” said JoAnne.

Some of JoAnne’s favorite pastime hobbies included sewing and she even made her daughter’s wedding dress. She also enjoyed woodworking and refurbishing old furniture.

One of her favorite things about living at the Manor is her neighbors.

“We watch out for each other,” said JoAnne, and shortly after, two neighbors stopped by to check on her.

On nice evenings, they sit outside on the patio and visit.

“I just love it here,” said JoAnne. u

“I kept my teaching certificate current, but I never taught school,” said JoAnne.

The Mocks were active in the community and members of First Christian Church where they sang in the choir together. They were married for 72 years until Bruce passed away on January 13, 2021.

After Bruce’s passing, JoAnne wanted to try something different Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.

Community Matters 620-225-1928 ◆ Fax: 620-225-3982 200 Campus Dr. Dodge City, KS 67801-2760 ManorOfThePlains.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2022

is published monthly for residents and friends of Manor of the Plains

by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

To submit or suggest articles: jwiggins@pmma.org Tammy Thompson, executive director Joy Wiggins, marketing counselor

OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

A patriotic ‘Sip ’n Paint’

In honor of Fourth of July, Manor of the Plains Executive Director Tammy Thompson brought together a group of women for a special, “Independent Ladies,” edition of the community’s Sip ’n Paint art series.

Those who participated included Donna Imel, Donna Penner, Joyce Rumbaugh, Ella Mae Dale, Shirley Ballard, Martha Gray, and Ariadna Cervantes from the community’s Life Enrichment department.

Ariadna Cervantes and Martha Gray

Executive Director Tammy Thompson

The following is a sampling of some of the comments overheard during this funfilled, creative session.

“My trees look like broccoli.”

“My trees look like wheat or weeds—we do live in Kansas!”

“I gotta get a long way away from it for it to look good!”

“If you put your name on it, write it poorly so no one will know whose it is!”

“I’m going to take mine home and put a thingy on it and hang it on the wall.”

Although maybe the best quote of the day came from Tammy who said, “Each and every one of these paintings have character.” u Manor of the Plains | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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200 Campus Dr. Dodge City, KS 67801-2760 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Pause, breath, HOPE – continued from page 1 Across the wilderness.

America! America!

God mend thine ev'ry flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life.

America! America!

May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness, And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2022

Galatians 6:8: For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life (NKJV).

I invite you dear ones to take time to pause, pray, breathe, and continue to live in Hope because hope, love, and JOY are contagious. Let us plant the seeds of HOPE all around us.

Enjoy the Summer! u