The “love” chapter – “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, It does not boast … it is not proud” I Corinthians 13

We often refer to February as the “love month,” and it has been so around Eads in many ways. Yet there are many sad hearts around Eads and Haswell because death has touched so many hearts - but I will share about this later.

Last week, we were looking forward to having a lovely Valentine dinner with some of our family members, however we were disappointed to learn that, because of too much sickness in the community and among the residents, we could not have our dinner. But leaders like Marla Guinn Darnell and Jaton King Wallace arranged such lovely foods and activities for us February 14. After lunch we played Bingo and then, rather than returning to our rooms, we were invited to the small dining room where the ladies delighted us with large chocolate covered strawberries on long wooden skewers. Then Marla said, “Now stay here. There is more to come.” Then she and Jaton gave all the ladies beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers in red colors from a flower shop. They announced that they were given by the Walt Bates family. When the ladies wondered, “who is this nice man?” I was pleased to tell them some of what I knew about this generous man. Walt lives on Slater Street in Eads. He ran away from his home in Mississippi at age 16, enlisted in the Army, and then was a truck driver across the USA for many years. He decided he wanted to retire in our little town of Eads. Now an octogenarian, he has a teenage son named Steven, whom I have enjoyed knowing.

We have had more cold weather here, with some snow and dangerous freezing temperatures for days. However, we feel so blessed that we do not have those terrible floods and fires that we see happening in other parts of the USA.

Gary Knoblock, who lives in Oklahoma, sent this list of Eads state wresting champions to his brother, Al Seibl, who lives in Wyoming, wishing him a “Happy Golden Anniversary” – 1975 - Class 1A - Alfred Seibel - 138 pounds. I have such good memories from helping sponsor pep clubs to the first five of those championships, who were:

• 1981 Dennis Gulley - Class 1A - 119 pounds,
• 1988 Stacy Uhland - Class 1A - 138 pounds,
• 1995 Nathan Weirich - Class 2A - 185 pounds
• 1997 Kerry Kemper - 130 pounds
• 2001 Doug Uhland - Class 2A - 135 pounds
• 2002 Doug Uhland - Class 2A - 140 pounds
• 2013 & 2018 Justin Lenox - Class1A - 220 pounds

Isn’t that listing of our champions awesome? What fun memories we fans have of those years following those young men!

Friends of Shea Cordova and her family’s hearts are aching so much this week. Shea has been suffering from cancer for several months, which caused her death. Her funeral will be February 26 at the Haswell Community Building, where she will be buried next to her father. Shea has worked for many years mostly in the Eads Medical Clinic. She has three well-loved children, Brenden Reifschneider, a college student who works in the Weisbrod Dietary Department; Justin Johnson, in middle school; and Jessalyn Johnson in third grade. Many Eads and Kit Carson fans wore pink to honor her memory at the Friday night basketball games in Eads.

Congratulations to Orville and Rita Mousel, who celebrated over 80 plus years of marriage last week. They grew up near Cheyenne Wells.

The family and friends of Delinda (Eikenberg) Davidson of Akron are mourning her death. Delinda’s siblings who grew up with her in Haswell are the late Delcarl (Dutch), Delmar (Sparky), Delene, Delton, and Delisa. Delinda’s funeral services were Monday in Wray.

The Wednesday Eads senior citizen lunch was well attended despite the frigid temperature outside. Gail cooked up a big pot of buffalo burger topping for baked potatoes, plus all the good cheese and broccoli toppings, and three pounds of bacon for “bits.” She plans to prepare corned beef and cabbage for March, which in past years has been tasty. Gail really does appreciate Mary Ellen Englehardt, Tom Barton and others who help in the kitchen. Our president, Sylvia Weeks, has been recuperating for six weeks from surgery. We miss her help and leadership while she has been in Greeley so many weeks with her daughter, Shelby.

I was pleased to have a phone call from Kelly Lujan from his home in New Mexico. He applauds our Dr. Ritch and his daughters for saving his life when he became so ill here last September when he was here for the county fair. His mother, Rose, died this winter. Rose’s sons plan to have the ashes of their father and mother buried at the family ranch in New Mexico April 26. I remember visiting that ranch when I took Kelly and Sharon Fischer and Rhonda Batterton to Taos, New Mexico, for a week to attend a watercolor painting classes from Adams State College.

Several wrestling fans attended the Colorado State Wrestling Tournament last week. The Eads school hosted a send-off pep rally in the gymnasium before the co-op team of students from Wiley, Cheyenne Wells, and Eads left for Denver.

Support your local teams. The players appreciate your support and cheering.