Clay Center Presbyterian Manor
Moments define a life FEBRUARY 2022
Residents share their stories of love As Valentine’s Day approaches, we asked a few residents to share their love stories to mark the month of romance.
❤ Letha & C.J. “Bud” Woodhams
Although both of us lived on farms south of Clay Center, we did not really meet until Bud was a senior and I was a Junior at CCCHS (Clay County Community High School). We dated until he went to Nebraska to mechanics school after his graduation. Following that, he went to Baltimore, Md., to work for the Glen L. Martin Company. After my graduation, I attended business school at Brown Mackie in Salina, then returned to Clay Center for a secretarial position at the Clay County Welfare Office. Letha and Bud Woodhams
Bud and I kept in touch during this time. He came home for a visit and gave me a ring with a promise we would get married if he got a deferment from the military. Wedding plans were soon made over the telephone, and I took the train from Topeka to join him. We were married in a Presbyterian chapel and had a year together before he was drafted and joined the Navy.
Love – continued on page 2
By Greg Schmidt, Chaplain
NOTE: Each month, we feature a column from one of PMMA’s community chaplains in honor of our faith-based roots. This month, we’re featuring Greg Schmidt, chaplain for Heart & Soul Hospice in Wichita and Newton Presbyterian Manor. Have you noticed that every Hallmark movie follows the same basic algorithm? Here’s how it goes: A princess-damsel presents with some sort of professional or social dilemma. In walks a socially awkward, wannabe prince-hero who demonstrates the desire to provide support or answers. His advances are, of course, rebuffed. A second “Captain Obvious” prince-snob rises to the challenge, but in his rush to care for the princess, manifests an arrogant, superior, you-know-you-need-me spirit. While at first the princess foolishly longs for the attention of Captain Obvious, ever so slowly over the course of the movie she falls in love with Mr. Wannabe’s cute little nerdy self. They finally kiss (it never happens until the end). The rocket’s red glare engulfs the sky. And they live happily ever
Memories – continued on page 2
The Woodhams July 15, 1942 Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at ClayCenterPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.
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Memories – continued from page 1 after in Mayberry. Or is that Whoville? My response to Hallmark’s oversimplification is best stated by Remy, the Disney character in the movie “Ratatouille” who said, “The only thing predictable about life is its unpredictability.” Real life is not simple. Or predictable. It has to be understood over the course of years, not moments. Who knew that the trick to life is living long enough to view unpredictability as your friend? Having said that, it is the “moments” – all added together – that define the life! When family and friends gather for funeral or memorial services, they recount a lifetime of moments otherwise known as “the dash.” The “dash” is that symbol on a tombstone that is centered between the birth and the death. I’m sure your family is like mine and exactly what we remember about someone’s “dash” may differ from person to person, which makes total sense to me, since none of us approach the exact same story or
experience at the exact same time, perspective or history. For example, seven members of my wife’s family tried to remember their Grandma Honey’s Christmas tree. We’re talking about 30-50-year-old memories here! And guess what? There were seven strongly held “I specifically remember …” perspectives. Some remembered a silver tinsel tree illuminated by a multi-colored rotating disc (ahh, the 60s!). Still others remembered a pink flocked tree (ahh, the 70s!). Who was right? They all were! What had to be figured out was what time period was being remembered and/or discussed, because at some point throughout their collective childhood experiences she had both! The greatest joy of being a Hospice Chaplain and a Heart & Soul Hospice Team member is helping families remember – and celebrate! – their loved one’s “dash”! When disputes arise among family members, I try and remind those willing to listen that it really doesn’t matter
who is “right” … and that it’s still quite possible no one is “wrong.” Why? Because our memories are about what is precious and inspirational to us individually! Such memories become our foundational and motivational reflections about those we’ve loved. Why is that important? Because all of us want our lives and the lives of those we’ve loved to matter! We want our cherished memories to be about living, not dying … even … or especially when … we’re dying! So, we search for joy and seek to eradicate pain! We look for promise and hope and peace. And, even when we’re vulnerable, we open our lives to unpredictable people, places, and things hoping they’ll enable us to look up and onward to the things that last forever! Just like in a Hallmark movie when everything turns out for the greater good in the end, so goes the life of promise found in God and in the love found in His people! NEVER let love die! Find joy in other people’s memories! Give it away! Daily! u
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Community Matters 785-632-5646 u Fax: 785-632-5874 924 Eighth St. Clay Center, KS 67432-2620 ClayCenterPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2022
is published monthly for residents and friends of Clay Center Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: dkuhlman@pmma.org Dani Kuhlman, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Area artists invited to submit work for Art is Ageless® juried competition
Clay Center Presbyterian Manor is seeking artists age 65 and older to compete in its annual Art is Ageless® juried exhibit and competition March 10, 2022. Entries of artistic works is not limited to residents of Clay Center Presbyterian Manor. Entries will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the 2023 Art is Ageless calendar.
The exhibit and judging will take place from 3-6 p.m. on March 10, along with a reception to celebrate area artists in the Chapel at Clay Center Presbyterian Manor. Public exhibit hours and reception are subject to change pending any adjustments needed due to COVID19. Artists may choose to enter works for exhibit only. For the competition, works must be completed after the artists is age 65 and must be no more than 5 years old, completed since January 2017. There are nine categories, as well as designations of amateur or professional. Works to be entered for judging may be dropped off beginning March 1. The entry deadline is 5 p.m. March 4. Contact
The entry deadline is March 4, 2022.
Love – continued from page 1
Dani Kuhlman at 785-632-5646 or dkuhlman@pmma.org to make drop-off arrangements. The Art is Ageless® program encourages Presbyterian Manor 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 throughout the year. Local competition winners will join winners from 14 other PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica) communities to be judged at the systemwide level. Entry forms and information can be obtained by contacting Dani at 785-632-5646 or dkuhlman@pmma.org, or access online at ArtIsAgeless.org. u daughter. Garold was her first and only true love, closely followed by her love for Alan Jackson.
❤ Evelyne and Cecil Keen
Evelyne and Cecil met at a Sunday school party, and the rest is history. They were married in 1951 and spent 70 beautiful years together before he passed last summer. u Dorcile and Garold Moon
❤ Dorcile and Garold Moon Dorcile met Garold through her brother, as he was one of her brother’s friends. Afterward, they spent about 61 years as a married couple and had a son and
Evelyne and Cecil Keen
Clay Center Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Clay Center campus shares customer service survey responses Clay Center Presbyterian Manor continues to seek customer feedback through monthly telephone surveys. Each month, residents and their representatives are randomly selected to participate in telephone satisfaction surveys conducted by Pinnacle Quality Insight.
residents and families also reported a high willingness to recommend the community to others. “We have recommended them to many folks, and did so the other day. I would tell them it’s a nice place to live,” one responded said.
The graphic to the right highlights some of the survey results. All scores are given on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the highest score and 1 the lowest score. Between December 2020 and November 2021, Clay Center Presbyterian Manor residents and their families gave the community high scores in demonstrating dignity and respect, safety and security and transportation needs. In addition,
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2022
We greatly value the opinions of our residents and their representatives about the care and services we provide, and we encourage them to participate honestly when contacted by Pinnacle Quality Insight. All state and federal confidentiality laws are met in Pinnacle’s service. u