Arcadian life: celebrations and sad farewells

Class No. 10 of Arcadia Christian Church opened the season with their first meeting on Sept. 16 with Patty Peterson serving as president until an election is held. Ava Mae Adams is the retiring president. We give her credit for the many years she served and decorated and gave us words of wisdom.

Mary Lee Payne as hostess for the day brought Vicki Palmer of Pittsburg to tell the bible story of the life of Queen Esther. This was most interesting and enjoyed by the six ladies present including newcomer Lilly Coonrod.

At roll call time, each told how she spent her vacation.

The secretary reported sending 22 cheer cards since the last meeting in April. Three cards were signed for Lorene Gibson who had a doctor appointment, Shirley Culbertson who is in a wheel chair due to a broken ankle and Ava Mae Adams.

The flag salutes were followed by Lord's Prayer Patty closed the meeting with this quote. "A true apology is more than acknowledgement of a mistake. It is recognition that something you said or did has damaged relationship and that you care enough about the relationship to want it repaired and restored" by Norman Vincent Peale.

Mary Lee served pumpkin filled cake with Cool Whip frosting, candy corn and pumpkins with Reese's peanut butter cups and coffee. Joining the ladies for refreshment time were The Rev. David Peterson, Jerry Coonrod and Billie Unruh from McPherson. These three were present to prepare for Wiley Teague's funeral dinner to be on Friday. Other ladies present were Mae Watt, Carole Garrison and Mary V. Shead.

Later that afternoon, Betty Dehn and Patty Peterson cleaned the rest rooms and the Little Folks' room in the bungalow.

Remember the Community Gospel Sing to be held at 6: 308: 30 p. m. Saturday, Oct. 13, in Arcadia Community Center. It is free to the public. This is hoped to be one of many more sing-a-longs.

Eleven years ago Sunday, Sept. 13, John Ward died. In his memory, his daughter, Ernestine Ward Berkey, gave flowers to St. John's Lutheran Church in Pittsburg. That afternoon she presented a bouquet to Forrest Berkey's coworker in City Hall, Shirley Culbertson, who has a broken ankle and one to Ernestine's old time neighbor, Mary V. Shead.

The Crawford County Cato Tour is at 10 a. m. Saturday, Nov. 3. Another quilt made and given by Sue James of Texas as a fund raiser for the Cato Club is being raffled off in the future. One dollar each or six for $5. Tickets are available from Lilly Coonrod.

Oct. 20 is the date set for the AHS Our Gang Chili dump. Bring white elephant gifts for Bingo prizes to Arcadia Community Center. Fifteen friends met at Truman Lake last weekend for a golf tournament. Included were three of the Watt brothers, Bill from Independence, Mo., his son, Bruce Watt, from Blue Springs, Mo.; Delton Watt Jr. from Fayette, Mo.; and Tom Watt from Lees Summit, Mo. Tom's teammate was Max Ritter and they won second place.

That same weekend, Allen and Linda Watt from Wichita met Linda's brother Charles Swartz and friend from Western, Kansas.

On a recent weekend, Jerry and Lilly Coonrod met his brother, Jack Coonrod, and Rick Kirby along with Max the Grandog for a campout from Friday-Sunday at Farlington Lake.

Joe Taylor, 71, Arcadia, died in his home on Wednesday, Oct. 3. He had a stroke in 1994 and never fully recovered. He was born handicapped in his feet and had a problem with walking.

His seven sisters are Florence Karnes, Edna Sowder, Barbara Underwood, all of Fort Scott; Betty Payne, Arcadia; Shirley Driscoll, Denver; Ethel Long, Van Buren, Ark.; and Donna Thomas, Wagoner, Okla. One brother, Bill Taylor, lived with Joe. Preceding him in death were his parents, two sisters, Mary Long, Marita Sherrill and a brother, Howard Taylor. Burial was on Columbus Day, Oct. 8, in Sheffield Cemetery with Cheney Witt of Fort Scott in charge. The Rev. David Peterson conducted the services.