Claypool dances her way to Senior Pageant crown

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  • Claypool dances her way to Senior Pageant crown
    Claypool dances her way to Senior Pageant crown
  • Crowned queen and winner of the 2022 Senior Classic Pageant, Kyleen Claypool, cuts a rug on the dance floor during the Talent Competition Saturday night. In right photo, Claypool poses with her well-deserved crown, now representing the 2022 Senior Classic Pageant winner and another “Forever Queen.” Staff photos by Ashley Colvin
    Crowned queen and winner of the 2022 Senior Classic Pageant, Kyleen Claypool, cuts a rug on the dance floor during the Talent Competition Saturday night. In right photo, Claypool poses with her well-deserved crown, now representing the 2022 Senior Classic Pageant winner and another “Forever Queen.” Staff photos by Ashley Colvin
  • Jan Massey, winner of the “Clydene Fielden” award, graced the pageant audience with her folk song and praise-worthy personality during the Talent Competition at the 2022 Senior Classic Pageant.
    Jan Massey, winner of the “Clydene Fielden” award, graced the pageant audience with her folk song and praise-worthy personality during the Talent Competition at the 2022 Senior Classic Pageant.
  • Sharon Durham, winner of the “Spirit” award, serenaded the crowd at the Hopkins County Civic Center Saturday night during her singing performance during the 2022 Senior Classic Pageant.
    Sharon Durham, winner of the “Spirit” award, serenaded the crowd at the Hopkins County Civic Center Saturday night during her singing performance during the 2022 Senior Classic Pageant.
  • The Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Pageant court poses with awards Saturday night. From left to right, Jan Massey, Sharon Durham, Barbara Grubbs, Elizabeth Wilburn, Sharon Baker, Mary Lynne Anderson, Kyleen Claypool, Becky Sanderson, Mary Ellis and 2021 winner, Wilma Thompson.
    The Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Pageant court poses with awards Saturday night. From left to right, Jan Massey, Sharon Durham, Barbara Grubbs, Elizabeth Wilburn, Sharon Baker, Mary Lynne Anderson, Kyleen Claypool, Becky Sanderson, Mary Ellis and 2021 winner, Wilma Thompson.
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Several stunning ladies participated in the Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Pageant on Saturday.

The event was truly something to behold as they impressed a crowd of over a hundred guests with their inner and outer beauty, including their talents and philosophies on life.

Adorned in evening gowns, pageant contestants ages 60 and over graced the Hopkins County Civic Center with an elegant maturity and passion Pageant Emcee, Enola Gay, recently named a Yellow Rose of Texas in 2020 by Governor Greg Abbott and a previous runner-up winner of the pageant itself, announced the event with co-host Gary Spraggins Sr., a comedic counterpart and also a previous contestant in the men’s pageant competition of Hopkins County. During the opening, they sang a duet of “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” by Louis Armstrong. Later in the evening Enola provided a solo performance of “Tallahatchie Bridge.” There was plenty of entertainment that followed as guests waited to hear the results from judges, Kim Good of Heritage Home Health and Hospice, Libby Davies of Family First Home Health, Dana Peebles of Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab and Charlotte Baxter of Carriage House Manor and the Cottages.

Karon Templeton Weatherman, coordinator of the event, provided the awards, honoring and crowning this year’s queen with Bill Holden and Tommy Anderson of BT Medical Supplies, sponsor of the event, including the 2021 Mrs. Hopkins County Senior Classic winner, Wilma Thompson.

Before passing on the crown, Thompson provided a final speech, and some hilarious stand-up, reminding everyone it takes a good sense of humor to fill the shoes of the Hopkins County Queen.

The 2022 crown was finally awarded to Kyleen Claypool. Kyleen, a mother of four, grandmother of four and great grandmother of three, came equipped with a little bit of comedy and an impressive dance routine to the Benny Hill theme song, “Yakety Sax.” There was no doubt that her performance and outgoing personality won her the crown. She was also awarded “Most Talented” after her dance routine, a well-deserved honor and unanimous decision by the audience and judges alike.

The winner for first runner-up was Becky Sanderson. Becky is a mother of one son, Caleb Sanderson, who was coincidentally the pageant escort for the evening. Surprisingly, he also won part of the raffle drawing, a prize amount of $811.

Claiming her son to be the most influential person in her life, Becky stated during her interview that she strives to be just like him because he is a “positive and intelligent person who loves everyone.”

Uniquely, she has also been a host of and second mother to many foreign exchange students in the community. She owns a business called “Granny Nanny” where she is a sit-in attendant to many elderly residents. In addition, she house sits, baby-sits and dog sits; providing service to others being one of her greatest personal qualities.

Becky performed a song and dance routine with Gary Spraggins Sr. in a fifties soda shop dress. She made her personality apparent as a bubbly woman who is a major advocate of fun.

Second runner-up was awarded to Mary Lynne Anderson, mother of two children, four grand children and one great grandchild.

Mary performed a wonderful monologue from Betsy Ross, dressed in full bonnet and gown, iterating the time she met George Washington at her front doorstep asking her to create the national flag adopted in 1777.

Draped with the original flag over her lap, she awed the audience with a scene from the past while sitting in a handmade rocking chair.

Mary also sold the most raffle tickets for the event, totaling $450. She stated that her biggest role model in life is her father, “he taught me everything – he is my rock.”

Speaking of personality, Mary Ellis won “Best Personality” for the evening, shining bright with her lovely smile and heart-felt singing.

Asked what she would do with a million dollars, she simply stated she would give it to those in need. “What you give out comes back to you,” she added.

Ellis is a mother of four children and a grandmother of three. She strives to make a difference in the community and the lives of others.

The “Best Life Philosophy” was awarded to Elizabeth Wilburn. She claimed that if she had the chance to do everything all over again, she would not change a thing. “I’ve lived a long life and I would like to thank the good lord for it,” she said.

Elizabeth made it clear that she was in it for the jokes as well, as she performed a comedy bit chalk full of “why did the chicken cross the road” style humor. Endearingly, she remained fairly reserved the whole time, making her presentation funnier than the jokes themselves. She is a mother of two and a grandmother of one. She is always looking to provide a helping hand, including feeding the many birds that visit her home.

Linda Pickle Hill also performed a funny comedy skit about the troubles of buying ladies swimwear, describing all of the styles, patterns and problems with fitting into the often skimpy selections in department stores.

She won “Best Interview” for her reply to the question provided by Spraggins, “if I were new to the area, where would you take me first?” Honoring fallen soldiers, she paid tribute to their memory and sacrifices for community and country in her answer, saying, “I would show you the memorial downtown at Celebration Plaza…that is where all of our freedom begins.”

Barbara Grubbs, winner of “Best Evening Gown,” followed Hill’s act with just as comedic of a skit. Grubbs gave a light-hearted performance describing her troubles with online dating. During her interview she mentioned that her most treasured possession is her china cabinet which has been passed down through her family for generations. Unfortunately, she said her kids want nothing to do with it.

Additional contestants included Jan Massey, winner of the “Clydene Fielden” award, Sharon Baker, won “Miss Congeniality,” Sharon Durham, won the “Spirit” award and Valerie Ross and Marjean Allen were also contestants but were unable to attend.

For those who can make it, the State Senior Classic Pageant will be held in Tyler in September. Kyleen Claypool will be representing Hopkins County in the pageant and supporters are encouraged to watch her 'cut a rug, in hopes of winning the state competition.