Blue Ridge Grange members celebrate 80-year member and give back
Blue Ridge Grange members presented 80-year member Jean Rausch with pillow cases that have her name embroidered on them. (Josie Sellers)
Jean Rausch was surprised with a special presentation by her fellow Blue Ridge Grange members on June 24 at Lafayette Pointe in West Lafayette, where she resides.
Grange master Bill Somerville, Nancy Somerville, Janice Braniger, Sherry Cognion and Connie Patterson gathered together at the nursing and rehab center to present Rausch with a pin celebrating her 80 years of membership to the Blue Ridge Grange. They also brought with them special pillow cases made for her and her fellow Lafayette Pointe residents.
While Rausch’s 80-year pin was being given to her, Bill Somerville read a letter from Sue Roy, master/president of the Ohio State Grange.
The letter said, “During 80 years you have demonstrated and promoted the grange way of life as instructed in the third degree: ‘be faithful, be hopeful and be charitable.’ Today, on this very special occasion, we join the membership of Blue Ridge Grange #1448 to thank you for your loyalty and devotion to the grange, as well as for the many contributions and services you have given and continue to give to the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry.”
Rausch said she has really enjoyed spending time with her fellow grange members. “I like our get-togethers and the things we do, which are for others mostly,” she said. “I just enjoy all of it.”
Rausch said if her time in the Junior Grange counted, she would have even more years of membership.
“I started when I was 5,” she said. “My family was very much involved. The grange booth at the fair was one of my favorite things to do and helping with lunches. We’ve just done so many things.”
The pillow cases Rausch received have her name embroidered on them, and the others were made of cheerful patterns.
“We picked patterns that will hopefully remind (the residents) of things they did,” Cognion said. “We included a birthday one too in case anyone is celebrating a birthday today or this week.”
The grange members made more than 60 pillow cases and plan to share some with residents at Riverside Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Newcomerstown.
“This is really great,” said Justin Warne, president of the residence council at Lafayette Pointe. “(The residents) will love them, and they will brighten their day.”
Several grange members worked on the project, and others provided fabric.
“We wanted to cheer them up and provide a little smile and color on their bed,” Cognion said.
Blue Ridge is the oldest grange in Coshocton County that is still operating. It currently has 33 members and is celebrating its 125th anniversary. In addition to Rausch, it also is celebrating 67-year member Dorothy Hothem.
Meetings are held the first Saturday of the month at 1 p.m. at the grange hall in Orange.
Category: Clubs & Organizations
