Nashville Trip Day 2

Day two began with a bus tour of Nashville. Lisa Lally served as a tour guide for us. She is one of many artists in Nashville trying to hit the big time. She has performed in Illinois several times and was recommended to us by Martha Speir. Lisa is a cab driver (her cab is pink) and performs when she can.

One stop was at the Parthenon. This is where the group photo posted on the first day was taken. Everyone will be identified later. Other highlights were the Capital Building, Vanderbuilt University, Music Row, The Downtown District, and many other places that we would tour in the next two days. Lisa ended the tour by serenading us with "Harper Valley PTA."

Lunch was at Hattie B's Hot Chicken. It seems there is always a line whether it is lunch or dinner! The chicken was great!

Fontanel was the next stop. It is the log home where Barbara Mandrell lived from 1988 to 2002 until the three kids were grown and the family decided to downsize. It is 27,000 square feet with 20 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 5 fireplaces, 2 kitchens, an indoor pool (that is now sealed over), and an indoor shooting range. Barbara's husband, Ken Dudney designed it, and her daughter Jaime is now the tour manager for the current owners.They are record producers, and Fontanel is often used as a retreat for song writers, a recording studio, etc. There is a log pole in the great room that has been signed by many famous guests including Oprah and Bob Hope.

Carol, Kathy, and Joe may well have been holding a $100,000 guitar as guests are encouraged to sit on the furniture, touch the collectibles, etc. Our tour guide was also a musician who performed for us. It is quite an impressive place!

The Ryman Auditorium is the original home of   "The Grand Ole Opry."

 We were treated to a full tour including the backstage dressing rooms.
The building was originally a Union Gospel Tabernacle Church built in 1892, and is often called the "Mother Church of Country Music." The Grand Ole Opry began there in 1943 and stayed until 1974. It is now housed in a new building at Opryland. However, during November and December, the Opry is held at the Ryman. We all got to walk across (and stand on) the Opry stage as Jananne and Donna are doing here.

The history and story of how the Ryman has survived over the years is quite interesting. You might want to do a Google search and learn more. And don't forget, you can still tune in to the Grand Ole Opry on WSM radio at 650 AM on the dial for every Opry show.

Our day ended with dinner at Puckett's Grocery Store and Restaurant. It is known for slow smoked barbecue and other delicious southern food. Puckett's started as a grocery store in the 1950's, and is now a well-known community kitchen with live performances. We did not stay for the performance, but were definitely well fed!

IEAFCS Nashville Trip

Twenty six IEAFCS Life Members and friends were "On the Road Again" in November to see as much of Nashville, TN as they could fit into the five day schedule.

The weather cooperated, and it was beautiful almost all of the time. Toward the end of the week, we heard reports of snow at home, but we were enjoying nice warm sunshine. It seemed like we got a few extra days of Indian Summer this year!




                                                                                          

Lunch the first day was at Patti's 1880's Settlement in Grand Rivers, KY. The food was excellent, and the Christmas decor was outstanding. Then it was back on the bus to our hotel--Club-Hotel, Nashville Inn and Suites. We stayed in the same place for four nights on this trip, and traveled out to different attractions each day.

Even though we weren't really hungry after a big lunch, we had a great meal at Monell's at the Manor in the evening. It was all you can eat, southern comfort food, served family style. There was no shortage of fried chicken, green beans, corn bread, biscuits and gravy, pork chops, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, etc. And it was topped off with delicious banana pudding!

It is very possible that some individuals had trouble sleeping that first night because they ate too much.

Condolences to the Family of Kay Mayberry

Kay Mayberry

November 2, 2015 

72-year-old Broughton resident, Kay Mayberry died at 2:25 p.m. Sunday, November 1 at Hamilton Memorial Nursing Center in McLeansboro.

She had been a University of Illinois Home Economics Extension Advisor and Family Life Educator. She attended Herscher High School and earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois.

She was a member of the Hamilton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, served as president of the Homemakers Education Association Board, taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible school, and sang in the church choir.

Survivors include her husband, Gerald Mayberry; two sons, Troy Mayberry of McLeansboro and Todd and wife Lisa Mayberry of West Frankfort; a daughter, Tanya Thornton and husband Jeff of Evansville, IN; a brother, Gerald Williams of Bloomington, IL; a step-sister, Rita Caron of Manteno, IL and six grandchildren, Brook and Bradyn Mayberry, Cassidy Rennison, Ella, Lucy and Sadie Thornton.

Funeral services for Kay Mayberry will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5 at the First Baptist Church in McLeansboro with burial in Prospect Cemetery southeast of McLeansboro.
Visitation will be 5 – 8 Wednesday evening, Nov. 4 at the First Baptist Church in McLeansboro.

Memorials may be made to the Hamilton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary or Hamilton County Relay for Life and will be accepted at the Harre Funeral Home in McLeansboro, which is in charge of all the arrangements.

Condolences for a Couple of Old Friends

Jean Marie Wallis Skinner, formerly of McLeansboro, passed peacefully, Oct. 25, 2015, in Hendricks County Hospital in Danville, Indiana, with her family by her side. Jean was born June 12, 1931, in Cairo. She was the daughter of St. Elmo Wallis of Mayfield, Kentucky and Marie (Moreland) Wallis of Cairo. She was preceded in death by her father, St. Elmo Wallis; her mother, Marie Wallis; her husband, Harold A. Skinner; and her sister, Ruth Hoskins. Jean graduated from Cairo High School in 1949. She received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science graduating from SIU in 1954. Jean married her longtime sweetheart, Harold A. Skinner on June 13, 1954, in Cairo. She and Harold had four children, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild including Marianne Skinner of Belleville, Margaret (Skinner) Henthorne, Michelle, Melody, Robert Jr. and Molly Henthorne of Hillsdale, Michigan, Marcia Skinner, Jennifer and Nina Skinner of Carterville, and Harold Allen Skinner Jr, Lindsey, Nathan and Linus Skinner of Columbia, South Carolina. She loved her son-in-law, Robert Henthorne and daughter-in-law, Jaqueline Skinner as she did her own children. Jean's career began teaching home economics. When she and Harold moved to McLeansboro in 1961. She served as Hamilton County Extension Adviser/Home Economics for the University of Illinois for 20 years. She loved square dancing, 4-H, Historical Society for Hamilton County and United Methodist Church. She was also a Rebekah president, in United Methodist Women, Twilight Unit HEA, Hospital Auxiliary and in Senior Citizen's Kitchen Band. She loved to do tai chi, aquatics and paint. She spent many hours as “Grandma Jean” at Hamilton County Pre-School reading to the classes. Jean moved from McLeansboro in 2007 to Indianapolis, Indiana. Private services for her family were in Indianapolis. Jean will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Harold, in IOOF Cemetery in McLeansboro. Further arrangements are still pending. Memorials may be made to the church she called home, First United Methodist Church in McLeansboro. Any correspondence may be forwarded to her daughter, Marcia Skinner, 1003 Main St., Carterville, IL 62918. Jean's passing brings great sorrow to her family and those who knew her well, but also great joy and peace as she is with her husband again.

Our condolences to all members of Jean's family.

We also learned just this afternoon (11/1/15) that Kay Mayberry passed away. More information on that will be shared when available.

Flashback to '76

Our 1976 directory did not have a photo of Wilma Brommel included. However, I'm sure several of you remember her. She was DeWitt County Extension Adviser, Home Economics. Before that she had worked for three years as Extension Adviser in Buchanan County, Iowa, three years as an instructor at North Dakota University, and two years as a Home Economics Teacher.

Wilma received her Bachelor's degree in 1950 from Iowa State University. and a Master's from Indiana State University in 1968.

Big news in the horse racing world today. American Pharaoh, the horse that several of us cheered to victory in the Kentucky Derby, won the Breeder's Cup Classic. He is the only horse ever to win the Triple Crown and the Breeder's Cup--The Grand Slam! He will now be retired from racing.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Member Update

Deb Pflasterer and her family own and manage an Ice Cream Shop and Grill in their town. As you can guess, this keeps them plenty busy!

She and her husband have three children ages 18, 10 and 8. She also still helps out at State Fair with entries, etc.

Good to see you, Deb!

Flashback to '76

Lynn Bredemeyer was working in  North Suburban Cook County as Assistant Extension Adviser, Home Economics. Her bachelor's degree was from Southern Illinois University, and she had been in Cook County since 1975.