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Enola Gay Mathews
There’s a special October birthday to be celebrated. Margie Dale Hathcox, who will turn 103 years old this month. She will be honored with a party at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 24, right after the Fit & Strong exercise class. You’re invited to come. Hopkins County claims Margie Dale as its own, although her ranch has a Yantis address.
Friends of the late Myra Crist will remember her from the Classic Lanes snack bar, where she worked for decades. It’s been said that Myra had a passion for the game, a bigger passion for meeting and talking to people, and a colossal passion for her kids and her family. She’d reminisce about her 30-plus years in education at Yantis ISD., driving a school bus, starting a Little Dribblers program, as well as how she helped to start the Yantis Volunteer Fire Department with her four boys Rodney, Wesley (Wes), Kevin and Nathan; and her husband, Wendell. SSNT Contriubting columnist Jeff Davis recently included in his Wednesday column about the lovely tribute made to Myra earlier this year at the Lanes with the retirement of her bowling ball.
Our Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Jan Massey entered the Ms. Texas Senior Classic Pageant in Tyler this fall, her first time competing on the state level. In a field of 14 lovely senior ladies, Jan definitely made a splash with her kind and caring demeanor that carries a touch of fun. Jan’s talent portion honored her country roots when she came out in jeans, boots, and straw hat to recall with humor some ways that her mother and grandmother had, and her own childhood pleasures and life lessons that she now treasures with the passage of time. “The Aging Attitude” is what she calls that subtle but powerful change in our perception of life that most of us experience as we age. Along with being selected as a finalist in the pageant, Jan received a trophy for “Best Platform,” which is her life message as illustrated in “The Aging Attitude.”
Another local personality, Ms. Texas Senior Classic Vender Wright was there to applaud the contestants and to crown her successor, Kathy Matthews of the Tyler area. Vender’s enduring talent for encouraging and inspiring others with actions and songs has made her a wonderful representative. Vender’s royal reign since 2019 is a unique one that will be hard to match, and she will always be our own Ms. Texas Senior.
The Stew Contest is still open to new cooks. The “Stewcomers” meeting for new cooks already signed up is Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. at the Pavilion in Buford Park. That same day, returning cooks can pick up their goody bags at the Chamber office, 110 Main Street, between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Be sure and pick up a 2023 Stew T-shirt at the Chamber office.
Got an outdoor event you want mentioned? Got a Dutch Oven or Stew recipe you want to share? Let me know by email at enola@ssnewstelegram.com.