Commun ty Matters Fort Scott Presbyterian Village
Artist of the month:
Join us in honoring the fathers in our community
June 15, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. A cookout, live music on the patio along with a special guest Martha Haehl, who specializes in bluegrass music.
If you are interested in attending please call 620-223-5550 or email rkellum@pmma.org.
Happy Father’s Day
By Becky Kellum, marketing director I would like to take a moment to reflect on how Father’s Day began. Father’s Day was established in 1910 after a young lady by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd wanted to honor her father. He was Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, and he was a single parent who raised his six children alone. Sonora was a member of the Old Centenary Presbyterian church (now Knox Presbyterian Church). She got the idea after hearing a sermon about Mother’s Day in 1909. She knew right then that there should be a celebration for fathers. She asked her pastor if they could have a similar celebration for fathers. Several of the local clergymen accepted the idea. The clergymen throughout the city presented sermons honoring fathers HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
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June 2018
Edith Collins
We welcomed Edith Collins to Presbyterian Village in April 2018. She’s a longtime resident of Fort Scott, moving here in 1945 from Matrix, Mo. After moving to Fort Scott, Edith attended nurse’s training. Along her journey as a nurse she met her future husband Lewis, when his mother was being treated at the hospital where Edith worked. Once married, they moved to a farm just outside of Fort Scott and had four children. Edith worked night shift from 1948-1990 at Mercy Hospital as an RN mostly on the OB floor, but when there were no babies being delivered, she worked other areas. Her husband worked the cattle, planted the crops and helped with the children. “Lewis did not like vegetables, so there was no canning to do,” said Edith. “But I was thankful for that because I didn’t like to can. I remember my mother, Grace, canning for hours and hours. It was such work in those days!” Still she had her share of labor at home. She made all of her clothing by hand, including her nurse’s outfit. “I wanted to learn how to crochet a baby blanket for my firstborn grandchild, so I got a pattern and set out on the new task at hand. That was 43 years ago. Since then I’ve moved on to sleeveless jackets, pillows and blankets,” said Edith. Edith has a blanket she crocheted for herself that her sister wanted, so Edith crocheted that exact blanket for her sister so they both would have matching blankets. “When I crochet something, I never keep it. I always give it away. This is just something I enjoy doing,” said Edith. A few of her items will be on display in the lobby at Presbyterian Village during the month of June. Come by to view her beautiful handwork and the love and attention she puts into her artistry.