Local volunteer honored for 20 years of service

Administrator of the Nevada Medicalodge, Susan Houser, left, presents Edith Cox of Nevada a floral basket during a gathering at the facility on Thursday. Staff and residents "wanted to do something to show her how much we appreciate the time she volunteers here," said Houser. About three dozen people were present to honor and show Cox their appreciation for the more than 20 years of volunteer work that Cox has done at the facility. Rusty Murry/Daily Mail

A crowd of about three dozen staff members and residents of the Medicalodge of Nevada gathered in the facility's dining room on Thursday to honor and show their appreciation to Edith Cox for the more than 20 years of caring she has shown them as a daily volunteer at the long term care facility.

Administrator Susan Houser presented Cox with a floral basket and said, "we wanted to do something to show her how much we appreciate the time she volunteers here." Cox is at the nursing home every day unless a doctors appointment or something at home keeps her away. But that's not very often. Cox said she is probably there 350 days of the year.

She got started spending time in the facility when a family member moved into the home in December of 1989, but she said she didn't count that month. In all Cox has had six of her family members stay at the nursing home over the years. Three of her brothers, her mother, her sister and an aunt have all been residents, but now just her youngest brother, Bobby Moon, is there. She takes care of him because he likes for her to do some things like shaving him and because, "I believe in family," she said.

Cox said she has seen a lot of changes at the place and said, "this is the best it's ever been. She used to fix the hair of some of the ladies living there. Sallie Howrey said that she "really liked" the way that Cox fixed her hair, but then they made her quit doing hair because she didn't have a license. And that isn't the only thing she has had to give up while volunteering.

Cox called the bingo games held three days of the week for 15 years and than had to quit because of some things at home, but she did say, "if things get better at home I'll be back." It was easy to see that the people in the dining room liked Cox. Residents and staff alike gave her hugs and told her thank you. Community Relations Director Kim Robertson said, "she's just wonderful; she really cares about the residents." Houser said "we just love her."

And even while she was being honored, Cox moved about the room asking residents if they wanted some of the cake or punch that was being served.

There was a lot of laughter in the room. Cox likes to laugh and joke and have fun with the residents. "We're always pulling stuff on each other," she said, little stuff that makes them smile. Cox said that she also gives everyone a birthday gift. "I get them whatever they want." she said, usually food; it's often something different than they can get in the home.

Cox said that she has stuck with the volunteer work all of these years because, "you fall in love with the people," and "I'm a people person." She also said that there was something about the energy of the interaction with residents, a sort of collision of positive energies, that she just couldn't put he finger on that she enjoyed.

Cox also said that helping out for all these years has been very personally rewarding. She said that "the experience of meeting all of the different people that have been here and knowing that they appreciate what I do" has been the greatest reward of her 20 years of service to the residents that she calls part of her family.