Fort Scott Presbyterian Village announces Art is Ageless® winners
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village is excited to announce the winners of its recent Art is
Ageless® juried competition and exhibit.
“We’re honored that local seniors allowed us to exhibit and judge their wonderful works,” said Taylor Bailey, senior living sales specialist. “Art is Ageless is unique because it only features the works of artists who are 65 and over. Our artists prove it’s never too late to create art, in any form.
A lifetime of working together
In 1950, Billie and Gerald Cox graduated in the same high school class at Mound City, Kansas. Two years later, the two wed at Prescottand they spent the next 72 years working side by side.
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. Winning entries at the masterpiece level are selected for publication in PMMA’s annual Art is Ageless calendar and note cards.
Art is Ageless is a copyrighted program of PMMA®. For the competition, works must have been completed in the past five years. Started in 1980, Art is Ageless is an extension of PMMA’s wellness programs, which focus on mental, physical, social, and spiritual health. The program encourages Fort Scott Presbyterian Village residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition.
“I worked for a year and a half at Blue Cross and Blue Shield before we got married,” Billie said. “After that, I just worked with Gerald on the farm.”
Gerald, who will turn 92 in June, spent most of his life on the same piece of ground.
“I was born and raised on the same farm for 85 and a half years until I had to move into Presbyterian Village for a bad heart valve,” Gerald said. “We’ve been here a little over six years. It’s been a wonderful place to live. Everyone here is wonderful.”
A life together –continued on page 3 Art is Ageless –continued on page 2
continued from page 1
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village hosted a reception for the winning artists listed here:
Best of Show professional: Tony Fornelli, “Duel Knives”
Best of Show amateur: Sharon Wyckoff, “Nativity Skirt”
People’s Choice professional: Tony Fornelli, “Duel Knives”
People’s Choice amateur: Wanda Haley, “States Quilt”
Judge’s Choice professional: Bobbi Kemna, “Nature’s Bowl”
Judge’s Choice amateur: Helen Nuzum, “Barns in Quilts”
Christmas amateur: Sharon Wyckoff, “Nativity Skirt”
Drawing amateur: Ruth Bahr, “Blooming Beauties”
Mixed Media/Crafts professional: Tony Fornelli, “Duel Knives”
Mixed Media/Crafts amateur: Helen Nuzum, “Gertrude”
Needlework amateur: Karen Coyan, “His Love”
Painting professional: Tony Fornelli, “Bass, Bluegill, Crappie”
Painting amateur: Jim Logan, “The Names of Jesus”
Photography amateur: Roger Bailey, “Sadie Says “Hi!”
Quilting amateur: Sharon Wyckoff, “Delicate Creams”
Sculpture/3-D professional: Tony Fornelli, “Ichthyology – Study of Fishes”
Sculpture/3-D amateur: Rick Sadler, “Ruby Slippers” u
620-223-5550 u Fax: 620-223-7800
2401 S. Horton Fort Scott, KS 66701 FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org
Community Matters
is published quarterly for residents and friends of Fort Scott Presbyterian Village by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: mheckman@pmma.org
Marla Heckman, executive director
Taylor Bailey, senior living sales specialist
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
life together –from page 1
Despite the positive experience, Gerald admitted it was tough to leave a place that had been home for so long.
“I was reluctant after living on the farm for 85 years, handling cattle,” he said. “It was kind of hard to adjust and not be on the farm. But I got used to it.”
Billie, who is 93, shared her advice to anyone working on a long and healthy marriage.
“My advice to young people, I tell them you’ve got to give, and you’ve
got to take,” she said. “It can’t all go one way.”
“It worked for us,” Gerald added.
Throughout their marriage, Billie and Gerald had two children, a boy and a girl. But their family has grown to include 11 greatgrandchildren - with most remaining in the area around Fort Scott.
Gerald spent his working years handling cattle and working the farm. Billie enjoyed quilting and crocheting - crafting special pieces for each of her grandchildren and
great grandchildren.
“She’s very talented,” Gerald said. The couple also enjoys traveling and they’ve visited every state in the country, except Hawaii.
“We did take a trip to Alaska, and got to see Mount McKinley,” Gerald said. “We had a lot of fun. When we were younger and our family was younger, we tried to take the children with us all the time when they were growing up.”
Join us in helping Gerald and Billie in celebrating nearly 73 years of sharing their lives together. u
2401 S. Horton
Fort Scott, KS 66701 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
