Local artists among Art is Ageless® masterpiece level winners
Local winning artists in Parsons Presbyterian Manor’s annual Art is Ageless® juried competition will be featured in the 2024 Art is Ageless calendar produced by PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica®).
“Coneflowers,” a Painting entry by Lorraine Evert, will appear in the calendar when it is released this fall.
Works by local winners are automatically entered into a masterpiece level competition with winning art from 14 other PMMA® communities. More than 190 entries were received for this year’s masterpiece competition. The winners are featured in the Art is Ageless calendar with pull-out postcards and greeting cards.
“I Love Lucy,” a Drawing entry by Jane Parish, will be featured on Art is Ageless greeting cards.
“We are honored to exhibit artwork by seniors,” said Natae Nash, marketing
Art is Ageless
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Parsons Presbyterian Manor welcomes news team members
Our team grew over the last few months as we’ve added new members in different departments. Please help us welcome them to our community.
DeMarco Romine,
Human Resource Manager
DeMarco joined our community in June and can’t wait to get to work learning and helping our team. He has experience in the Kansas Army National Guard and the Adjutant General Corps. DeMarco has Bachelor in Workforce Development with an emphasis in Human Resources and a minor in Military Science. He’s been a member of the National Society of Leadership for four years.
Outside work, he enjoys working out, cooking, and playing video games.
Haylie Felts, Quality Assurance
Haylie is our new Quality Assurance Nurse and came to Parsons Presbyterian Manor with lots of experience in senior living from other
New team members
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Art is Ageless– continued from page 1
director. “Art is Ageless is unique in featuring only the works of senior artists. Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.”
A copyrighted program of PMMA, Art is Ageless is open exclusively to people age 65 and older. For the competition, works must have been completed in the past five years.
PMMA’s Art is Ageless program
encourages Parsons Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year.
Started in 1980, Art is Ageless is an extension of PMMA’s wellness programs, which focus on mental, physical, social and spiritual health.
To learn more, visit ArtIsAgeless.org.u
Remembering the life and legacy of Mary Hughes
“We both loved the city so much,” said Donna Seeley, friend and ‘partner in many things’ to Mary Hughes, who passed away earlier this year. “We wanted everyone to see Parsons through our eyes.”
Hughes’ legacy in Parsons can hardly be overstated. Whether it was starting Katy Days Festival or founding Operation Bright Touch with Seeley, Hughes was a giant in the region. “These gals were really forces!” said Donna’s daughter, Jana.
Hughes, a University of Kansas graduate taught seventh and eighth grade English when she first arrived in Parsons, but life had much in store beyond the classroom. Five years in public education and many more in Christian education aside, her passion for people never stopped when the school bell rang.
Her daughter, Megan, said her mom “didn’t do business” but was an entrepreneur of ideas.
She was also responsible for founding the Humane Society, was beloved by local children of all ages, and continues to be remembered fondly by everyone whose path she crossed.
“She was always coming up with ideas to promote the town,” Seeley recalled. “Like I said, she wanted everyone to see Parsons the way we saw it.”
And see it they have. Through Katy Days, Operation Bright Touch and more, Mary Hughes left an impact and a legacy that won’t soon fade. Like her personality, it will remain implanted on the region and the people who knew her. That’s a legacy worth celebrating, indeed! u
New team members – continued from page 1 communities. She started her career as a CNA and worked her way up to Charge Nurse, Assistant Director of Nursing, MDS Coordinator, and Infection Preventionist.
She earned her LPN certificate at Neosho County Community College and is a certified Nursing Home Infection Preventionist through the CDC. She also has her RAC-CT certification (Resident Assessment CoordinatorCertified).
Haylie says she knew her calling from a young age. “I’ve known since I was 16 that my heart belongs in healthcare,” she says. Since then, she’s worked in different types of clinics, long-term
care communities, dementia units, and with a surgery team.
“Nursing is an honorable profession and has been life changing for me,” she says. “It is an honor to take care of those in need and I’m excited to expand my knowledge here at Parsons Presbyterian Manor.” When she’s not working, Haylie is spending time with her husband and daughters. They enjoy lots of outdoors activities like riding razors, boating, swimming at the river, and camping. They also love cheering the Kansas City Chiefs.
Melissa Stephens, Administrative/Accounting Assistant
Melissa joined the community in May, coming from the town of Erie
where she was the city clerk for two years. Before that she worked at Neosho County Community College and was a medical records clerk at Labette Center for Mental Health for 10 years.
Melissa has an Associate’s degree in Accounting and Management, and has level 2 certificates in Accounting and Management.
Outside work, she likes to spend time with her husband of 23 years, their four children and four grandchildren and their dachshund, Gunner. And she also says she’s the biggest Chiefs fan ever! u
