Manor of the Plains
MAY 2022
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 Mary Bridges, chaplain at Salina Presbyterian Manor®
Mary’s Musings
Meet Your Neighbor:
Gwendolyn Frances Wilson-Brooks
By Mary Bridges, Chaplain
I must confess that Memorial Day was never my favorite holiday. Growing up, my family made our annual trek to the cemetery to deliver fresh peonies from my mom’s garden. That evening, we’d go back to pick them up.
Gwen Brooks is an active part of the Manor of the Plains family at 96.5 years old.
Gwen was born, married and widowed all on June 9. She was born on June 9, 1925, married on her 21st birthday in 1946, and widowed on their 45th anniversary, June 9, 1991. She was born in Missouri, the daughter of Louis Bishop and Edna Lee (Cowan) Heimer. They traveled to Kansas by train and settled in Hanston. She had one brother, James. She attended Southwestern College in Winfield, graduated from Sterling College and did graduate work at Fort Hays College. She was married to Glen Eugene Wilson, June 9, 1946, in Hanston and they had four children: Jim (Shirley) Wilson, Ulysses, Kan.; Jean (Dean) Lyman, Sharon; Jared (Veronica) Wilson, Little River, Kan. and Jolana (Roger) Perkins, Miltonvale, Kan. Gwen began teaching in 1946, beginning in a one-room country school— Beeler, Jetmore and Hanston. After retirement, she substituted in Dodge City, Kan. and was also a librarian at St. Mary’s of the Plains. Glen and Gwen lived on the Heimer Homestead in Hanston, farming,
Gwen – continued on page 2
As I grew older, I began to lose friends and family members — even our son. Visiting graves and offering remembrances still left me feeling sad and empty. However, my view on Memorial Day has changed. To illustrate that, I want to tell you about my friend Mary Ellen from Menomonee Falls, Wis. We became friends in 1999 while serving on a national women’s board. More importantly, we became prayer partners. Each day when I awoke, I visualized Mary Ellen on her treadmill, praying with me. Through 20 years, we prayed with each other through our ordinary days, through illnesses and the loss of loved ones. In the midst of the pandemic, Mary Ellen was diagnosed with cancer. Her final Christmas letter in 2019 ended with these words from scripture: “Be
Prayer – continued on page 4
Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at ManorOfThePlains.org/covid-19.
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Gwen – continued from page 1 ranching and teaching until moving to Dodge City in 1984. They traveled to Hawaii, Alaska and Canada. After 45 years together, Glen passed away on June 9, 1991.
Gwen was named the Dodge City Area Women’s Chamber “Woman of the Year” in 2015. She was also recognized as a Dodge City Family YMCA Member Champion in 2020 where she enjoys going to exercise class every morning.
Gwen married Frederic Thompson Brooks on February 4, 1995, in Dodge City. They enjoyed traveling together to the Panama Canal, Australia, the Holy Land, Egypt, Africa, British Isles, Greece, Turkey, Scandinavia, Russia, Europe and the Caribbean Islands. Fred passed away November 9, 2010. Gwen is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dodge City where she is a member of the Builders Sunday School Class, Brown Bag, UMW Circle 2, FISH, Christian
Women’s Club, Stonecroft Bible Study and has sung in the choir and played the piano for Sunday school. She was also active in the community through ESA Sorority, FCE Extension Unit, PEO, Hospital Auxiliary, Chamber of Commerce, Depot Theater, Community Concerts, Retired Teachers, volunteered at the hospital and the Manor of the Plains she has also been a piano accompanist for church and care home church services and birthday celebrations. Her goal in life was to reach the age of 93 (her mother and grandmother both lived to 93). Gwen has exceeded that goal and is still enjoying life at 96.5 years young. u
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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 | May 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.
Manor of the Plains Presbyterian Manor announces Art is Ageless® winners Manor of the Plains recently announced the 2022 winners of the annual Art is Ageless® juried competition. “We are honored to exhibit artwork by seniors,” said Joy Wiggins, sales and marketing counselor. “Art is Ageless is unique in featuring only the works of artists aged 65 and older. Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.” Winners in the Manor of the Plains Art is Ageless juried competition were:
People’s Choice amateur: Dorothy Gabel, “C2C Baby Afghan”
Judge’s Choice amateur & Sculpture/3D amateur: Joan Vogel, “Monarchs Amid Milkweed”
Judge’s Choice professional & Sculpture/3-D professional: Patrycia Ann Herndon, “First Outing”
Fiber Arts professional: Virginia Cobb, “Albert & Ethel”
Best of Show amateur & Drawing amateur: Robert Ayer, “Geisha Girl”
Best of Show professional, Drawing professional & People’s Choice professional: Patrycia Ann Herndon, “Daylilies”
Christmas amateur: Cynthya Billinger, “Santa in a Hot Air Balloon”
Mixed Media Crafts amateur: Susan Bunyan, “Fairy Pumkins”
Mixed Media Crafts professional: Sarah Schaeffer, “Patchwork Prairie”
AiA winner – continued on page 4 Manor of the Plains | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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200 Campus Dr. Dodge City, KS 67801-2760 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
more Art is Ageless winners Painting amateur: Leo Ontiveros, “Boxed In”
Photography amateur: Linda Kobs, “Ol Sly”
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Local competition winners will join winners from 14 other PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®) senior living communities to be judged at the masterpiece level. Art is Ageless is a copyrighted program of PMMA®. PMMA’s Art is Ageless program encourages Manor of the Plains residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions. u
COMMUNITY MATTERS | May 2022
Prayer – continued from page 1 strong and of good courage. Be not frightened or dismayed. For your God is with you wherever you go” from Joshua 1:9 and “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” from John 14:27. In April 2020, I received word that she had died. That year, I felt that empty feeling on Memorial Day. I decided that I will always take my offering of remembrance to those who are no longer living, as I was raised to do. But then I will celebrate the people I dearly miss by reaching out to their loved ones to share the impact they had on my life. Last year, I sent a letter to Mary Ellen’s family telling them how blessed I was to have known her and how her memory continues to sustain me. I invite you to join me in memorializing your loved ones by writing or phoning their family and friends and sharing how they affected your life. It has become my favorite way to celebrate Memorial Day. To God be the glory! u