Leonard at large 8/13

Wednesday, August 13, 2003

A week ago Sunday, my mother came to the end of this life experience at Nevada Regional Medical Center. Many people have expressed their sympathy to the family in a number of ways. The support received is greatly appreciated Thanks goes to a large number for their thoughtfulness. As I sat in the hospital, I was giving thought to her life and started writing some things down. In last week column, "In Time of Mourning," I shared with you a portion of mom's (Reta Ernsbarger's) experiences in life. Following is another portion, concluding the two part series. She lived on the family farm nearly 50 years. A house was purchased in Butler, living there 16 years. She moved to an independent living apartment and lived in the facility for six years, the remainder of her life. Reta enjoyed playing bingo and playing cards at the facility. She had been a good seamstress and did much sewing. At one time all of her dresses were home made and most were from the printed feed sacks. She painted many items with textile paints. She enjoyed exhibiting her printed quilts and other items at the Bates County Fair, where she received several ribbons, often first place. One enjoyment was crocheting and she crocheted many items. About the early 50's she took a job in town, candling eggs. She worked there for a few years. In her closing days of life she would not eat eggs -- she had candled too many. Later, she sold Avon and textile paints. David introduced Reta to bowling and later she got Buster involved. For several years she enjoyed bowling, including participating in leagues and traveling to tournaments. Reta and Buster purchased a travel trailer and went to Mission, Texas for several winters where two of the brothers, a sister and their spouses also went. The winter after Buster died David drove her down there. She left the trailer down there one year and drove herself the other times, even though she was in her 70's. It was not the same without Buster, so this adventure was discontinued. She enjoyed traveling and went on many one day trips to Branson, to Kansas City and to other places She took several cruses and went on many other trips. An event she recently mentioned was once, while swimming in Gus Hellwigs' pond, Leonard pushed her off the end of the diving board. She ended up sitting on the bottom of the pond. Reta was a charter member of the Mt. Pleasant Extension Club. When the club disbanded, she joined the Bethel Extension Club, belonging to an extension clubs about 50 years. It was meaningful to her -- especially in the early years. She learned much about cooking and sewing through the club. The Rebeccas meant much to her and she was given lifetime status. She belonged to the group for 45 years and held several leadership positions. Reta used to talk about the "girls" in referring to her friends. Many of them were younger then she, but could not keep up with her. Reta did not want anyone telling her age -- until she reached 90 -- then she did not mind. Still, on her last birthday people asked her how old she was and she would turn the two number around and say that she was 39 and holding. She was in her 80's and was still helping with the Red Cross Blood Drive and serving meals for her church and lodge. At 85 she was riding a lawn mower, mowing her lawn. She was active in the Butler First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) including in Christian Women Fellowship and participating with the Sunday school class. Leonard and David especially remember the strawberries they had each summer. When taken to neighborhood gatherings everyone enjoyed her strawberries. There were a great supply of berries even though the patch was not properly cultivated, containing much grass. Reta was a good cook -- especially with making pies and cobblers. Leonard' s favorite pie was coconut, David's favorite was chocolate. David also commented on how well he liked her blackberry cobblers. When asked what her best time in life was, she said it was when the kids were young and they got together with the neighbors. In recent years, she experienced problems with her eyesight, preventing her from reading, which she enjoyed. She created things with her crafts. Up to a few months ago she was knitting covers for hangers. Reta Ernsbarger has experienced many things in life -- and saw many changes. In early life automobiles were few. Now there are many new things including the computer, which is something about which she'd say she didnt' understand how it works.

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