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The P.E. teacher questioned Debra daily. Was she okay, dressing out for gym class? Were the bruises noticeable, or was this a “good” day? Depending on her answer, Debra would suit out or not. Her beatings at the hands of her father were not uncommon, but during that era, those things were “hush-hush.” At the age of 16, her father told her that she needed to have sex to keep her from being “a frozen fish” like her mother. So, Debra did.
When dates brought her home five minutes late, more than once her dad met Debra on the front porch and physically dragged her into the house while her dates watched from their cars, horrified. Punching her in the face and spanking her with his policeman’s belt were not unusual, she, the prime target who protected her two siblings whenever she could.
Her mother offered no support, daily calling her a “stupid idiot” and many times holding her arms while her father lashed away. When her dad, drunk and confusing her with his wife, held her head in the toilet, enough was enough. The police were called, but because Debra’s dad was “one of theirs,” nothing happened.
This past October, Debra’s father, at the age of 75, lie in a hospital bed, dying. His daughter visited him several times, the final one, devastating. When it came time to leave, as Debra shared, “My dad’s eyes were evil, like a demon was speaking to me. ‘Get out. And never come back.’ That was the last time I saw my father alive.”
I listened intently as this lady, a beautiful, talented, successful artist/esthetician I met through a mutual friend, shared her story, the craziest part being, her dad “knew Jesus.” I had questions. Was he bi-polar? Demon-possessed? Debra didn’t know. She knew only that her childhood was cruel and painful.
“So, why is it that you are so normal, so fun, so engaging, so “together?” I asked.
Her answer? “God.”
Debra went on to share that from the time she was little and the beatings and emotional abuse progressed, she would go outside and find a reclusive area where she could have alone- time to talk to God. She admits that it makes no sense, since her parents did not take her to church or teach her about God. “I just knew He cared,” she said.
Should you walk into her salon today, you would be greeted with an open Bible lying on a countertop. Her faith is real, and she is not ashamed of it. I told her that I had no doubt that God would use her story to bless others. She laughed and said that more times than she could count, clients had shared their personal ordeals but concluded with, “What would you know? It’s obvious your life has been perfect.” They, like me, were shocked to hear otherwise.
Her mother, still alive, now depends on Debra for physical and emotional support. Debra said that she has chosen forgiveness, but “sometimes I have to tell my mom that she is not being nice when she berates me or focuses on the negative.” I asked if her parents ever apologized or asked for forgiveness. Debra said that was not part of their vocabulary.
The best part of the story was how Debra turned her childhood trauma into good. She, determined not to allow her children to have similar memories, daily affirms and blesses them. Happily married to a Florida firefighter, her life is all about being an encouragement to others, to let them know that they too can overcome. As Debra said, “That’s what God wants for all of us.”
Fresenius Medical Care, 2526 S. Main, Fort Scott was the county’s only local dialysis center. It closed its doors on September 30, 2019.
Fresenius Medical Care, a kidney dialysis center, closed the Fort Scott center on September 30, 2019.
Patients have made arrangements to either drive to Pittsburg, 30 miles away, or Chanute, 50 miles away, to get this specialized treatment or do home dialysis.
Fresenius was renting the building from Phoenix Realty Management, Southbury, CT. Plans are indefinite for the building at this time. The building was built in 2014 and is over 7,000 square feet.
“We…own the property with Fresenius being our tenant,” said Mike Panek, President of Phoenix Realty Management. “We are just as disappointed as the community is to see this happen. As a commercial property owner, you never want to see a building go dark. At this time we will be working with Fresenius to see what their plans are for the site as there is a lease in place for that location. My ultimate hope is the building can be transformed into another viable community business in the near future.”
Fresenius spokespeople did not give a reason for closing the kidney health care facility.
Rex Bryant Moore, age 56, a resident of Redfield, Kansas, passed away Thursday, September 26, 2019, surrounded by his loved ones at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was born on April 22, 1963, in Lawrence, Kansas, the son of William Lee Moore and Shirley Jean Rogers Moore. On May 21, 2004, Rex married the love of his life, Stacy. Rex and his father traveled across the United States so he could pursue his dreams of racing professional motocross. Although his career was cut short, the love he had for the sport never stopped. He enjoyed watching his favorite rider, Austin Howell. He lived week to week to watch this young man aspire at his dreams. He also played his motocross video games and took pride in them knowing that “Rocket Rex” was still out there whooping everyone even though it was not in person. His favorite thing to do was attending his daughter, Hannah’s activities. He enjoyed every minute of watching her in action. She was his pride and joy and he loved her very much, just as she did him. They had an unbreakable bond. Hannah was his “baby girl.” Rex loved being around his family and friends. Rex will forever be remembered for his beautiful smile, gentle eyes, caring heart, loving embrace and unconditional love. Rex loved so many and was loved by so many more. He had an energy that with just one encounter with him you would remember for life; he definitely left his mark. He made friends everywhere he went including Hannah’s friends which all adopted him as their dad. He brought so much joy to our lives and those around him. Although our hearts are heavy, we will celebrate his life and find comfort in knowing that he has no pain and is in heaven watching over us. Yet, we continue to hurt as he has left us. He yearned for that place in which he could breathe. Now he sits with God in the natural beauty and astounding light of heaven and he can finally breathe.
Survivors include his wife, Stacy, of the home; six children, Hannah Moore, of Redfield, Kansas, Sarah Powers, of Eldorado Springs, Missouri, Austin Moore, of Boliver, Missouri, Shelby Morillo, of Bronson, Kansas, Tyler Wilkerson, of Kincaid, Kansas and Dalton Church, of Coleman, Alabama and six grandchildren. Also surviving is a brother, Ronald Moore, of Shawnee, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.
Lloyd Houk will conduct funeral services at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, October 10th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Woods Cemetery near Redfield, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Wednesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Rex Moore Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
The staff of St. Martin’s Academy, front, from left: Patrick Whelan, headmaster; Joshua Gieger, housefather; Danielle Bauer, secretary; Ginger McElwee, teacher. Second row: Roger McAffrey, housefather; Ken Klassen, academic dean; Ryan Bauer, teacher; Michael Taylor, farming instructor. Third row: Robert McElwee, chaplain; Sebastian Macik, chef; Giorgio Navarin, housefather. Not pictured are Joshua Mincio, housefather and Dan Kerr, president of St. Martin’s Academy.
Phase I of a multi-year building project, Theokotos Hall, is completed at St. Martin’s Academy school and opened in September 2019 to 29 students.
The Catholic boys boarding school started in 2018 and was housed temporarily in a large Victorian home on National Avenue in Fort Scott.
The completed Theotokos Hall contains dormitories in the basement; an office, kitchen and dining hall on the first floor; and classrooms and the chapel in its loft, according to the school’s recent newsletter.
The dining room of Theokotos Hall also doubles as classroom space. The view is from the loft looking down. A student sweeps the floor after lunch was served on Monday afternoon.The chapel at Theokotos Hall. The ornate furniture and altar came from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in downtown Fort Scott.
Freshman through junior class young men are enrolled this year, the school started last year with freshmen and sophomores.
Currently, 10 of those students are spending a trimester in Europe and the other 19 are receiving liberal arts lessons in literature, history, math, science, religion, Latin and also music-both folk and sacred, in Theokotos Hall on Indian Road, southwest of Fort Scott.
The 11th-grade students are now three weeks into their 10-week study abroad program in Europe.
“Highlights thus far include Le Louvre in Paris, venerating the bones of St. Martin in Tours, and crawling amongst the mortar scarred landscape above Pointe du Hoc at Normandy Beach,” according to the school newsletter. The school was hosted by Chavagne International School who organized a trip to Puy du Fou, an authentically Catholic and medieval theme park in the Vendee.
The students and a housefather, Josh Mincio, are stationed at the Abbey of Fontgombault in central France, a Benedictine monastery. The next leg of the journey is a future pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain and then to Rome.
The ninth-grade students spent several days in the Wind River Mountain Range, Wyoming.
“Operating at a base altitude of 10,000 ft, the boys logged over 20 miles of hiking through a rough and rugged backcountry, carrying their own provisions on their back and preparing their own meals,” according to the school newsletter.
The next phase of construction at the school is building three bunkhouses, housing 20 students each.
Currently, the students have bunk beds in the lower level of Theokotos Hall. Two adults, called house fathers, are housed at the building 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The academic building, including a formal library, is next, followed by the construction of the stone chapel which will be the final phase, Patrick Whelan, the headmaster at the school, said.
All are hoped to be completed in five years, Whelan said.
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Film The Learning Tree
begins TOMORROW, October 3rd and continues through October 5th
at the
Gordon Parks Museum
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW
for special events at the
16th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration! Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Film The Learning Tree
Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp, cast members in The Learning Tree film by Gordon Parks, will receive “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” at the annual celebration this TOMORROW,
October 3rd, and continues through
October 5th, 2019 in Fort Scott, Kansas. The celebration is in honor of Fort Scott Native Gordon Parks, noted photographer, writer, musician, and filmmaker. This year’s celebration is a special one as we will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the
Gordon Parks-directed film The Learning Treethat was filmed in Fort Scott.
The celebration events will take place at the Gordon Parks Museum, located at the Danny and Willa Ellis Fine Arts Museum at Fort Scott Community College,
2018 S. Horton St., in Fort Scott.
There are 3 special events during the celebration that require ticket reservations:
“A Night of Jazz”
“Picnic at the Park”
“Celebration Tribute Dinner”
SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE AND REGISTRATION FORM BELOW
(Tickets also available from the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall St.)
For a printable copy of the event schedule and the registration sheet, clickHERE
John David Mowrey, age 78, a resident of rural Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly, Sunday, September 1, 2019, at the Via Christi Emergency Room in Ft. Scott.
He was born March 11, 1941, in Ft. Scott, Kansas and was the son of Raymond William Mowrey and Isabelle Ida Ramsey Mowrey. John graduated from the Ft. Scott High School and the Ft. Scott Junior College.
He later served for four years with the United States Air Force. John later returned to Ft. Scott where he worked as HVAC service and maintenance for the U-234 School District.
John was very mechanically minded and loved rebuilding and restoring antique cars, tractors and engines of all kinds.
John loved nature, and one of his favorite evening pastimes was sitting on the boat dock at his pond and watching the stars and moon.
John was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Scott, Kansas.
He was a devoted volunteer in his community and helped and served many from behind the scenes.
John will always be remembered for packing, delivering and serving Thanksgiving dinner with the Elks. He was an active member of the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Committee, always willing to help this organization in any capacity. He volunteered for Good ‘Ole Days and drove his vintage vehicles in the parade.
John was very proud of his military service and helped place the flags on the graves and down East National Ave. to honor veterans at the U.S. National Cemetery.
In addition, he volunteered with chili and soup fundraisers including the Beacon soup line.
John was always willing to help in a time of need and many benefitted from his kindness and generosity.
Survivors include his sister Marjorie Midili; his nephew, Jeff Midili and wife, Jenifer and a great-niece, Sophie Midili, all of Vienna, Virginia.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service with cremains will be held on Friday, October 11th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial with military honors will follow in the Fort Scott National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made, to the First United Methodist Church or Fort Scott Paws and Claws Animal Shelter and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P. O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Vernon Leon Bowden, Sr., age 72, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Thursday, September 26, 2019, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg, KS. He was born November 4, 1946, in Phoenix, AZ, the son of Arie and Eunice Nichols Bowden.
Vernon was an avid KC Chiefs fan and loved to compete in pool tournaments. Christmas was his favorite holiday, occasionally dressing as Santa. He enjoyed all his dogs; Bear, Tator, and Manny. Vernon loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.
He was a member of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Ft. Scott.
Survivors include his children, Tina Creekmore and husband Ron, Turlock, CA,\; Angel Steeley, Ft. Scott; stepson Russell West, Modesto, CA; Star McClellan and husband Matt, Ft. Scott; Vernon Bowden, Jr., Eugene, O; and son-in-law Jason Steeley; six grandchildren, Jennifer Tilley, Joshua Creekmore, Makayla Steeley, Haley Steeley, Madelynn McClellan, and Madyson McClellan; and four great-grandchildren, Caleb Tilley, Bailey Creekmore, Kyla Tilley, and Victoria Tilley.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
There was cremation. Private family memorial services will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
