Lawrence Community Matters May 2018

Commun ty Matters Lawrence Presbyterian Manor

May 2018

hope.

Where there is heartache, there is

Be the fuel that ignites a spark for a resident.

Get your donation envelope at the reception desk today, or visit presbyterianmanors.org/give_now. ® ®

Effie Simmons holding the book, “A Bushel and a Peck.”

Effie Simmons publishes 70 years of poems in ‘A Bushel and a Peck’ Whether she was vacuuming, changing diapers or putting dinner on the table, Effie Simmons was not only busy raising five children, but she was writing down ideas for poetry on whatever scrap of paper she could find.

Today, those scraps of paper and 70 years-worth of poems have been selfpublished in a book.

“I started writing poetry when my children were little. It was more to entertain them than anything. I’d write about something they did,” said Effie.

Sign up to receive our newsletter by email. Visit LawrencePresbyterianManor.org

and enter your email address in the subscription box.

It’s that easy!

As her five children grew, Effie continued to write poetry for her 12 grandchildren and enjoyed singing the song, “I love you a bushel and a peck” to them, too. Recently, one of her younger grandchildren, Kelly, helped Effie dream up the idea of publishing all of her poems and scraps of paper into a book for the family to enjoy.

“Kelly and I were talking and the idea came up to publish my poetry. She EFFIE, continued on page 2

Lawrence Presbyterian Manor 1429 Kasold Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 Return Service Requested

EFFIE, continued from page 1

Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Lawrence Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.

Christie Patrick, executive director Angela Fonseca, marketing director To submit or suggest articles, contact afonseca@pmma.org.

Telephone: 785-841-4262 Fax: 785-841-0923 Address: 1429 Kasold Dr., Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

LawrencePresbyterianManor.org

2

Community Matters May 2018

offered to gather the poems and assemble them. She arranged it all.

The first section is poems I wrote for my family, the second section is about the seasons—nature and life in general—and the third section is poems I like by other people,” Effie said. “In the back of the book, we included pictures of the scraps of paper with my ideas written on them. Then she called the book, ‘A Bushel and a Peck’ since that was something the grandchildren remember me singing to them.”

of folded strips of paper, “just like little quilt pieces,” she said.

As Mother’s Day approaches, Effie shares that her proudest accomplishment as a mother was “raising five kids and working nights as a nurse.”

She and her husband, Frederick Earl Simmons, were married almost 60 years before he passed away. Today, their family continues to grow. Effie has eight great-grandchildren and is expecting two more in May.

Effie has lived at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor for about 14 Effie had several other talents she years. While her arthritis keeps her shared with family and friends over from writing poetry and folding the years. She made quilts for all paper greeting cards, she enjoys of her family members, and shared reading. “I usually read historical vegetables and flowers from her garden. Before her arthritis became novels,” she said, “where I’m learning something as well as reading for especially troubling, Effie made greeting cards with designs made out enjoyment.”

Like us on Facebook