Beech Tree News Network

Morgantown Care and Rehab held their Annual Hall of Fame Induction Service and celebrated 50 years of service to the community on Thursday night at Morgantown Community Church.  Chaplain Derek Cain served as emcee for the evening. 
Guest speaker Jim Green, CEO of Building Bridges 4 Life, challeneged everyone to become "Bucket Fillers", "Like tonight's inductees we all need to connect and invest in others."
Seven individuals were inducted into to Hall of Fame including Exie Hawes, Debra Coleman, Ralph Eaton, Brandy Holland, Lillie Mae McKinney, Woody Allen, and Kathryn Gerow.  A video presentation chronicled each inductee's life and each received a framed copy of the Hall of Fame certificate.  Former State Representative Woody Allen presented each inductee with a Kentucky Colonel certificate.  Musical entertainment was provided by Matthew Embry.

Morgantown -Butler County Chamber Secretary Annette Jared presented Shirley Allen with a Lifetime Member Plaque for her service to the community.

Elder JC Taylor read the hometown hero poem.  Amy Phelps, MCRC administrator, thanked everyone for their attendance, congratulated the inductees, and expressed her gratitude to the staff of MCRC. Dinner was served after the induction service.

Brandy Holland

If a generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things that renew humanity, such a person to display this form of stewardship is Brandy Holland.  Born October 31, 1975, at the Warren County Hospital in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Brandy was born into a family where the Lord was a vital part of her life.  Her parents, Ronald Andrew Holland and Becky Paschal, brothers Robbie (deceased), Ronnie, Doug, and sister Autumn began and ended everyday with prayer.  Their church played a key role in their lives as they ensured that every Sunday was dedicated to God and attended tent revivals around their community. Brandy’s hardworking spirit was demonstrated early on as she obtained her GED in 1992 after completing a two-year work program, which enabled her to graduate two years early from high school.  In 1998, Brandy joined the Morgantown Care and Rehab Center team, where she has been employed for eighteen years.  Through her time at our home, Brandy has balanced a variety of job titles, many at the same time, including geriatric technician, social services assistant, dietary assistant, central supply manager/staffing coordinator, medical records assistant, and assistant business office manager.
Through her time at Morgantown Care and Rehab Center Brandy has been known to many of our business partners as “The Voice of Morgantown Care.”  Her kind soul is carried through the tone of her voice as she offers assistance to callers and visitors.  For her fellow care partners, she is the one to turn to.  When we need an answer to a question, many say “just ask Brandy.”  When we are struggling to get through the day many say, “Let’s have a Brandy Holland prayer.”  The compassion she shows to others and her love for our home is immeasurable.  If there is an opportunity to lend a hand, Brandy is always there without hesitation.  Her dedication to our home has landed her on numerous committees, including Signature Sparks, Snowflake Committee, Morgantown Care and Rehab Center Revolutionary Times Newsletter, Safety Committee, Chaplain Advisory Council, Part B Billing Initiative pilot program with the home office, and her favorite, Hall of Fame.
Her dedication extends outside of our home and into the community and her family.  As a resident of Butler County, Brandy has been a board member of the local volunteer fire department and assisted with various fundraisers and community events.  With her family, she is a caretaker as she frequently opens her arms to care for her mother and many nieces and nephews. 
If we are looking to renew humanity, Brandy Holland exhibits the characteristics that encompass this.  As we gather this evening let us be reminded of Brandy’s dedication, compassion, and love for this very event.  From the first Hall of Fame ceremony until now Brandy has fully dedicated herself to ensuring this event was second to none, and tonight let us welcome her into Signature Healthcare’s Hall of Fame.

Willard C. Allen

“Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living.” Albert Einstein
Never has a quote befitted a man more than Willard C. “Woody” Allen. Woody was born on April 21st, 1940 in Gilstrap, KY and was the only child of Orville and Bertha Bray-Allen.
Woody attended Western Kentucky University where he met the love of his life, Shirley Allen. He also attended Murray State University where he received his degree in industrial education. He taught for five years in Louisville, Kentucky. After marrying Shirley, they returned to the family farm in Gilstrap where Woody raised cattle and hogs.
Woody is the father of 2 children, Scott wife Angela, and daughter Kimberlea husband Mark. He has been blessed with four beautiful grandchildren, Gordon Jacob (GJ), Amanda Rachel, Matthew, and Delaney.
In 1975 Woody decided to delve into politics and became a member of the 17th District of the Kentucky State House of Representatives. He represented Kentucky for 29 years in the legislature. He was elected by his colleagues and served 16 of those years in leadership.
Woody has been a devoted volunteer to Morgantown Care & Rehab for more than 40 years and has donned many outfits in his time. From Santa Claus at Christmas to Abe Lincoln, Woody can always be counted on to assist with any quality of life event. He has participated in pie auctions and has been instrumental in all of our Hall of Fame celebrations by making sure our inductees were awarded Kentucky Colonels.
Whether it’s calling out “Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas” as he travels our halls on Christmas party day or stopping to visit with elders when he comes in for his daily visit he always has time for everyone. Most evenings Woody can be found spending time with his lovely wife, Shirley watching “Dancing with the Stars” or CNN and discussing the upcoming presidential election.
Always up on politics, devoted to family and friends and hardworking; there seems to be an endless list of adjectives to describe Woody Allen. On behalf of our facility, elders, and stakeholders Morgantown Care & Rehab would like to say “Thank you”.

Kathryn Gerow

“Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, in every gesture dignity and love.” John Milton. When thinking of Kate one cannot help but associate her with dignity and grace.
Kathryn Ruth Knapp Gerow “Kate” was born on August 7th, 1926 in Elkland, Pennsylvania to William Rundall Knapp and Mary Della Austin. Kate was the youngest of three daughters who included her sisters Dorothy and Martha.
After high school, Kate attended the Manhattan Dental Assistant School in New York City where she resided at the Anthony Women’s Boarding House. She became certified as a dental assistant on December 11th, 1944.
On November 15th, 1947 in Knoxville, Pennsylvania she married her high school crush and love of her life, Earle Manning Gerow, at the United Methodist Church. Kate was blessed to spend almost 50 years with Earle before his passing on August 22nd, 1997. During their marriage Earle was baptized on November 11th, 1951 at the Methodist Church in Cranford, New Jersey where they had opened their first store and their first child, James William, was born on June 16th, 1950. They later moved to Elmira/Horseheads, New York and opened Gerow’s Dairy and had their second son John Scott on March 19th, 1957. In 1969 Kate and Earle sold Gerow’s Dairy, which remains open to this day under the same name. They then moved south to Marathon, Florida in the Florida Keys where Captain Earle ran a charter boat and Kate and dear friend, Betty, opened Island Boutique.
Kate loved to play golf with her friends every weekend at the Sombrero Country Club. In 1978 they moved to the mainland in Florida and resided in Jensen Beach and Port St. Lucie. Kate has four grandsons, which include a music producer, a concrete contractor, an engineer and a minister. All are married and have blessed her with three great-granddaughters and a great-grandson.
She has a loving and dear sister-in-law who calls her daily, a brother-in-law and many nieces and nephews.
When describing Kate stakeholders often say they would like to be like her when they are her age. Traveling the halls at 3 p.m. daily for her glass of wine, Kate often stops to share a kind word with anyone who is lucky enough to cross her path. Full of class, always smiling and gracious, Kate is truly one of a kind.

Ralph Eaton

If success and hard work is the measure of a man, then Ralph Eaton is a very successful man indeed. Ralph Eaton was born on September 5th, 1931 in Whitley County Kentucky to Opie Eva and Robert Henry Eaton. He was one of seven children born to his family and is only one of two surviving siblings which include himself and his brother Bill Eaton of Madisonville, Kentucky.
Ralph attended Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky and received a degree from the Medical Technical School in Louisville, Kentucky. Less than a week after graduating he went straight to work at Dr. Miller’s office in the lab and X-ray department. He continued his work in this field for 22 years and was even featured on NBC and received state and national recognition for being an employee of a doctor’s office that had the only lab between Elizabethtown and Nashville.
He is the father of 3 children, JoAnna (deceased), Sandy Meredith an RN, and CJ an attorney in Boston, Massachusetts. He is married to Elizabeth Ann Eaton.
Ralph was 40% owner of Lakeview Health Care Center (now known as Morgantown Care & Rehab) and held the position of Administrator for 30 years from 1966-1996. He participated in most of the facility activities including the Krazy Wedding and he loved to joke and make people smile. He is described by former employees as humorous, witty, well-spoken and educated but down to earth. After retiring from Lakeview, he was a board member of four banks as a part of Bank Corp of Albany, Kentucky. He was also an employee of Meryll Lynch.
Ralph’s passion includes gardening and before his health declined he had over 100 rose bushes.  He could often be found in his overalls planting wildflowers and weeding flower beds around the facility. Known to all who had the privilege to work with him as a hardworking man and a people lover he inspires devotion and dedication in anyone who knows him.

Exie Hawes

Exie has learned a hardworking ethic from a very young age. Born in Dunbar and Leetown in Butler County, KY, when she was 14 years old she began working for her grandfather, W.H. Kitchens, in running his general store. She was the only daughter in her family with six brothers, and so a lot of the home responsibilities fell to her. With an offer to take over the store herself, after high school, she managed the store full time when she was in her early twenties. She met her husband Rex in the store and when they married he left the coal mines to help her run the store.
They had two children Kenneth and Sara, of whom Exie is very proud. She fondly remembers raising them in the store and giving them and other children treats from the store, whether they could pay for it or not. Exie’s generous spirit is obvious to anyone who knows her, and she attributes that to her faith. One of the things she’s most proud of in her life is her salvation. It happened when she was just a young girl of 14 at Sandy Creek Baptist Church where she was a member until she joined Big Muddy Baptist Church with her husband when they were married. It was at Big Muddy that she taught Sunday School and volunteered as the church secretary and treasurer for twenty-one years. In her years of dedicated service to the community through her work in the store, she canceled untold amounts of credit that were owed to her business because she knew that there were families who struggled to make ends meet. She eventually let the store business slow and ran a very successful sandwich shop in Morgantown that generations of citizens remember well and enjoyed.
Later in life Exie cared for her father who had Parkinson’s for over 30 years. She knows well the kind of compassionate living that makes the world a better place. For her wise and generous spirit and for being a leader and community builder we honor her and count ourselves as blessed for having her as a part of our community.

Debra Coleman

If laughter is the best medicine, then Debbie Coleman has a cure for what ails the world. Always quick to smile and full of laughter that can be heard throughout the halls of Morgantown Care & Rehab, Debbie is one of the most joyful people you will ever meet.
Debra Marie Bridges Oliver Coleman, affectionately known as Debbie or Mrs. Coleman, was born on October 26th, 1954 in Warren County Ohio to Martha Jean and Maxie Bridges. She has three sisters, Penny Bridges, Patti Bridges Brame and Diane Oliver Carr and two brothers, Rusty Bridges (deceased) and Brian Paul Oliver. Debbie graduated from Trigg County High School in May of 1972. While in high school she was a member of the Trigg County Wildcats band, a member of the debate team and she participated in regional and state competitions in debate and extemporaneous speaking.
She started working at the tender age of 15 at the Trigg County Hospital helping her mother in the OB and Nursery departments. At age 16 she was sent to obtain a work permit and was paid for learning and working at the hospital. At that time the hospital was owned by twin doctors, Dr. Elias Futrell and Dr. John Futrell, who were influential in her decision to apply for the nursing program at Western Kentucky University School of Nursing at the age of 17. She was a member of Western Kentucky University’s Hilltopper Marching band in 1972 and 1973. Getting to travel to New Orleans for a televised National Cotton Bowl game is something she will never forget. She graduated from Western Kentucky University’s School of Nursing in 1974 and worked at the Bowling Green-Warren County Hospital. She was a member of the Phi Mu Sorority and a little sister to Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity where she met her husband, Richard Coleman.
Debbie and Richard Coleman married in May of 1975 and have been happily married for 41 years. She had four children in the span of 5 years, Bryce Coleman 41, Brooke Coleman 39, Kyle Coleman 37, and Carla Coleman Delich 36. She has 13 beautiful grandchildren. Debbie has worked at our facility multiple times including having the privilege to work with former administrator Ralph Eaton when our facility was known as Lakeview Health Care. She worked for 17 and a half years at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, TN and was a clinical ladder two nurse for the last two years of her employment there. She has been at Morgantown Care & Rehab for 11 years as of October 8th, 2016. She loves her family, reading on her Kindle, cats and most importantly all things Christmas. Decorating for the holidays is a huge passion. She tolerates dogs, lizards, and fish for the sake of her granddaughter, Samantha.
Always professional, a smile ever present on her face, a kind word for all, Morgantown Care & Rehab is lucky to have Mrs. Debra Coleman, RN as a member of the nursing department.

Lillie Mae McKinney

103 years is an amazingly long life. Lillie Mae McKinney had a lifetime of experiences and witnessed an array of incredible events. She was born in 1912 (the same year the Titanic sunk) in the Silver City community of Butler County, KY. She was the oldest of four kids, and early in her life her father passed; so to help her mother she faithfully cared for her brothers and sisters. Lillie raised her family in difficult times too, but she always put other people ahead of herself. Lillie Mae had two sons, Don & Bobby and caring for her family was her world. They raised the food they ate including hogs and chickens and raised tobacco to pay the bills. And Lillie Mae was a worker. You would always find her right among the work that the men did. If they were cutting tobacco, she was right in the middle of it. She carried all the water from the spring for the drinking, cooking, and washing. They didn’t have electric lights in their home until 1952. She was an artist at coming up with something to eat. She saved and conserved all she could to make ends meet. When she wasn’t working Lillie Mae was quilting. Her collection of 30+ beautifully handmade quilts has never been slept under. She was a member of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church and didn’t have time for idleness. Lillie Mae was a provider. She was a hardworking woman who would rather sit on the porch and visit with someone than anything

The idea of the Hall of Fame Café started in 2003 when Signature Health was trying to find ways in which the importance of lifetime achievements, particularly as it applies to individual’s living in today’s nursing and rehabilitation centers, could be recognized.  As the program grew, the recognition of dedicated stakeholders and distinguished community members have now become a part of the honorary recognition.