Ozark Riverview Manor

Home Town People Caring for Home Town People

The Grapevine
July/August 2009  
 

Meet Wendell 
"Smiley" Coats

Wendell was the first of six children born to John and Grace Coats on a rural Illinois farm.  His  father was one of ten children born to James and Ann Coats; James and his brother Tom emigrated from Paisley Scotland, home of the Coats and Clark Thread Company.

Wendell worked from sun up to sundown and did not see the world until WWII called him from the farm.  The war took Wendell from his younger brothers and sisters, Keith, Lois, Cloy, Lyle and June.  The sheltered farm boy met the Army Air Corp and a big new world; Mississippi for basic and college classes for aviation, to Texas for flight school, to Denver and mustered out of Arlington Virginia when the war ended.

Life in the military was not all pain; many hours were spent with the new thrills of Roller Skating (dance skating) and Ballroom Dancing from Denver to Washington D.C.  Coming back home, Wendell returned to the family farm and was captured by Helen Bennett and they were married in the Little Brown Church in the Vail, Nashua, Iowa.

Retiring from the farm, Wendell assumed the Regional Manager position for Archer Petroleum Company until 1996 and moved to Mesa, Arizona.  When in Mesa, Wendell took up walking, six miles a day and picked up all the aluminum cans along the way.  In the twelve years in Mesa he collected and recycled over a million cans.

Standing beside every farmer is the foundation of the farm, and Helen was just that.  She raised a family of three girls, Durith, Karen and Shauna.  In addition to raising a family, little Helen was the top hand of the farm.

Wendell and Helen have 4 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Smiley is his name, picked by those who knew him, a quiet man who always has a smile and is ready to listen to something new.   He was an Eagle Scout, a member of Veteran’s of WWII, Eagles Club and American Legion-Forty & Eight.

FROM OUR DEPARTMENTS  

ADMINISTRATOR, DAN SERVEN

On Wednesday, May 13, 2009, we held our annual All Facility Cookout to celebrate National Nursing Home Week.  The activity staff decorated Hawaiian style and all around the building you could see staff members and residents dressed in their Hawaiian attire.  As always, Dan did an excellent job grilling the hamburgers and hot dogs.  The kitchen staff fixed all the trimmings, plus homemade ice cream and brownies.  Although the weather was a little threatening, the rain held off and everyone had a wonderful time and can’t wait for next year!

RIVERVIEW RESIDENTIAL PLACE, DEE THOMAS

ACTIVITIES, MELISSA HUTCHINSON

Summer is gearing up with Yahtzee and Dominoes several times monthly.  On Tuesday mornings the men get together for coffee in the Aviary.  Our monthly birthday parties are on the first Friday of every month at 2:00 in the afternoon.

On Thursday, July 2^nd we will be having watermelon and a seed spitting contest out in the courtyard.  On July 9^th, the Red Hat Club will party with us with Big Band music, dancing and lots of “red hats”.  Everyone is welcome!  Also, coming up on August 6^th, the Northview Senior Dancers will be here. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our volunteers, Bernadine Edward and Barbara Krofta for their dedication in helping our activity department.  We would also thank all of you who donate supplies and Bingo prizes for our residents.

Our deepest heartfelt prayers are with Clint Beckley, MNTC as he recovers from a terrible car accident. Also our prayers are with his wife, Amanda Beckley, DIET and their boys, the grandparents and Clint’s extended family and friends.  

Our thoughts and prayers are also with C.N.A. Nancy Minear as she goes through radiation treatment.

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will be holding a blood drive on the Ozark Riverview Manor parking lot on July 8^th from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m.  If you would like to donate blood, you may sign-up at the front desk.