Staff Appreciation Party & Employee

Of the Year

Resident of the Month:

Glenda Harrison

Service Excellence Honoree:

Betty Wright Calendar Highlights

June Birthdays Community Pics

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www.brooksideks.com

June 2019

SUPPORT TEAM Scott & Susan Averill,

The Owners Allison Lyda,

Director of Nursing Tammy Conklin,

Human Resources Kim Wilson & Lainie Lucas,

MDS Coordinators Sharrell Davidson, Business Office Manager

Denise Hoback, Billing Specialist Karen Peters, Social Worker

Shelley Branch, Rehab/Therapy

Tim Sullivan, CDM Jen Bedford, Dietary Mg. Quality of Life Coordinators

Joy Schmidt Sharri Allred Ciara Walter

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Brookside had their an-

nual Staff Appreciation Party at

the Overbrook Fairgrounds.

Staff and their families were in-

vited to enjoy a night of great

food, prizes and acknowledg-

ment while dancing to favorite

country singer Rusty Rierson

and band.

Brookside also crowned

the Employee of the Year for

2018. The nominees included

all Service Excellence Honorees

throughout the 2018 year and

the staff vote on the Employee

of the Year. This year’s winner

is Levi Ludwick. Levi is a week-

end C.N.A. that works on Lilac

during the day shift.

I think both staff and resi-

dents can agree that Levi is

loved by all. He is a hard

worker and takes great care of

the residents but his hard work

doesn’t stop when he clocks out

to go home. He has 6 year old

triplets, two girls and a boy,

that keep him busy at home.

Congratulations Levi!!!

Brookside Staff Appreciation Party

Above Levi is pictured with his

daughters, his son was running

around playing with the other

kids at the party.

Brookside has been

family owned and operated

by the Averill’s for 15 years

this July. We will be cele-

brating and reminiscing all

the good memories over the

last 15 years on July 1st at

3pm in the main dining

room. Please join us for re-

freshments and be ready to

share your favorite memo-

ries.

BRC Celebrating

15 Years

Page 2

Glenda Harrison

“I guess you could just call me a Lawrence housewife like the

popular TV show,” June Resident of the Month Glenda Harrison

said, “I had a group of friends that I ran around with and we had

a good time.”

Glenda went on to explain that when she and her husband

Wally moved to Lawrence in 1961, they didn’t know anyone.

Shortly after that they joined the Country Club where Glenda

made friends for life.

“We were all stay at home moms,” she explained. “We

played bridge and golf, went bowling, and took all sort of les-

sons.” For example, Glenda described taking lessons in knitting,

toll painting, quilting, and once she said they even made a decou-

page alligator purse!

Glenda was born in Hays, KS but moved to Topeka when

her father bought an Auto Parts Store. Glenda graduated from Topeka High and then at-

tended Washburn University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Educa-

tion.

Glenda began teaching kindergarten: first at McCarter Elementary and then at Avon-

dale West. “My first contract was for $4,000,” she laughed. “I thought I was rich!”

She married Wally Reed in 1959, and in 1963 they had their daughter Amy and raised

her in Lawrence. “We went to all the KU football and basketball games and we belonged to

the Eldridge Club.”’

When Wally passed away after 31 years of marriage, Glenda took classes in Kansas City

and did a lot of substituting. “I subbed at all levels and in all subjects in both Perry and Law-

rence,” she laughed. “Once a chemistry experiment exploded. That was something!”

Then a friend of hers who taught Learning Strategies asked her to become her parapro-

fessional, and Glenda did that for 15 years until her friend retired. “Then I taught a 7th grade

geography class,” Glenda said. “It was on a block schedule with 1 ½ hour classes and that was

too long!” So, she went back to being a para.

According to Glenda, the hardest part of her life was being alone after Wally died. “I

wasn’t a couple anymore so that changed my friends,” she said. “Being lonely is miserable.”

Glenda’s second husband Sid was her friend that had also lost his wife. “We were mar-

ried for 10 years,” Glenda said. “We had a nice marriage and I still see his kids.”

“Sid and I had a great time fixing up our house,” Glenda said. “There was even wallpa-

per to take off the ceiling!” Glenda has always enjoyed decorating, shopping and being crafty.

“I use to decorate our house for every holiday!”

When her health took a nosedive, Glenda moved to Brookside. “I like it here but I

have never lived by rules,” she laughed. “So, it’s been hard for me.” However, she does like

being so close in proximity to Amy, her 3 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. “I love

that they stop by all the time and I can go to their activities.”

“Brookside is nice and I’ve met people of all types and made lots of friends,” she ex-

plained. “But it’s hard to be dependent after being independent all my life.”

“I do love the activities,” she said. “They keep you busy”

Congratulation Glenda Harrison, June Resident of the Month!!!

Page 3

Betty Wright

“I guess I’m a workaholic,” June Employee of the Month Betty

Wright laughed, “My kids use to get mad because I worked too

much!”

Born in Emporia, Betty’s family moved to Osage City

when she was 5 years old. Betty graduated in 1979 from Osage

City High School, and after high school, she continued working

her three jobs: as a kitchen aide at Peterson’s Nursing Home, at

the bowling alley and at the theatre.

“I started cleaning to get more hours at Peterson’s so I

could quit the other two jobs,” she laughed. “When I was 18, I

become a Certified Nursing Aide, then a Certified Med Aide

then a restorative aide.”

In 1984, Betty married Greg Wright, who she met when

she was dragging main in Burlingame. “He looked me up after

meeting me that night!” she explained. The couple had three

children: Christian, Jonathan, and Richard. “I worked so much that once I even went into la-

bor while working!” she laughed.

But after 14 ½ years at Peterson’s, Betty decided it was time for a change and she began

working for Dr. Patrick Murray as a chiropractic assistant. She even earned a certificate in co-

lon therapy. “I had to quit that job after 7 ½ years because I was never home,” she said. “We

gave lots of seminar classes and my kids got mad!”

When the owner of Peterson’s contacted Betty, she went back to work there but as the

operator at the Assisted Living. “I ran it for them for 20 years,” she said.

Before coming to Brookside, Betty also worked for 1 ½ years at Aldersgate then 1 ½ at

Atria. “I heard good things about Brookside and about Scott and his family,” she said. “It was

also closer to Osage City.”

“I really like it here. It feels like a home,” she said. “I am impressed with the ownership.

I see Susan out working early and late!”

When Betty is not working, she enjoys traveling with Greg. “I loved the Smokey Moun-

tains, Pike’s Peak, Branson, and Graceland!” She also likes to take lots of pictures. “I like trav-

eling and taking pictures of all the people I see.”

They also like fishing and hanging out with their six grandchildren. “I love going to the

movies,” she said. “There’s nothing like a big screen and popcorn.”

Congratulations, Betty Wright June’s Service Excellence Honoree!!!

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

1st The Gallaways 2:00 (AL), 3:00 (Manor)

4th Rusty Rierson 1:00 (Manor)

6th Jana & Jean 1:00 (Manor)

8th Redwood & Rosin 2:00 (AL), 3:00 (Manor)

12th Chris Foster 3:00 (Manor)

15th James Rojas 2:00 (AL), 3:00 (Manor)

17th The Barbee’s 3:00 (Manor)

19th Joshua Woodland 5:45 (Manor)

22nd Ardys Ramsberg 2:00 (AL), 3:00 (Manor)

23rd Mennonites 5:30 (Manor)

26th Odds & Ends 2:00 (AL), 3:00 (Manor)

29th Shelia Mecker 2:00 (AL), 3:00 (Manor)

Inside Brookside Page 4

Brookside Retirement Community 700 W. 7th Overbrook, KS 66524 (785) 665.7124

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

1st June Branson

1st Russel Vawter

4th Karen Fischer

8th Shirley Danielson

8th Barb Sandridge

21st Betty Cooper

26th Pat Morgan

29th June Robertson

To the right Ashley Cooper didn’t disap-

point, check out BRC’s Facebook page to

see the amazing videos of his performance.

Below Russell Vawter and Ruth Hug are

pictured together at the Carbondale 80th

High School Reunion. Other pics include

the staff party and resident activities.