4B The Herald-Advocate, January 6, 2005 ardee Property Appraiser Retires After 20 Years Of Service Living HOLIDAY CELEBRATION HOLIDAY CELEBRATION Hardee County Property Appraiser Carolyn Coker was hon- ored with a retirement party at her office on Dec, 29. She was presented with a large silver platter with the inscription, "Honorable Carolyn. J. Coker, in appreciation of 20 years of service, 1985-2005'" :The platter -was accompanied by a fork and spoon. a matching cream and sugar and cake plate and wine chiller/ice bucket. There was also a chisel and ham- mer, because she once said she could chisel out a bear from the logs, in her yard. The honoree also received a framed picture of the niie staff members who have worked closely with her. "The staff hasn't really grown much," she explains. "Computers have helped us, do more work with the same amount of people." , Born in. Winston-Salem, N.C., Coker 'attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga., for two years, then completed her degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her husband, Larry, who grew up in Hardee County and Pompano Beach, attended Wake Forest in nearby Winston-Salem. The couple moved to Florida in 1973 and she began selling real estate then ran successfully for prope y appraiser. "It has been a most interesting job, never a dull .',moment. The staff and taxpayers have been good to work with." This Sunday at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. the New Year crusade at the First Baptist Church of Bowling Green will begin. On Monday through Wednesday, the crusade will start each evening at 7. '^Senior Pastor Jim Strickland invites the public to hear Evangelist John Randalls of Lubbock, Texas, and special music by "First Impression" who will present a mini concert Monday night. The church is located at 4531 U.S. 17 N. The Rev. Jessie Insley, new pas- tor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Bowling Green, invites the pub- lic to the church's homecoming this Sunday. Former pastor, the Rev. Eddie Kennedy. will be the speaker at 11 a.m.. with music by Judye and the '. Parkmen beginning at 10. Due to hurricane damage to the church building, the annual home- coming dinner has been postponed. , Until you try, you don't know what you can't do. PHOTOS BY JOAN SEAMAN Property Appraiser Carolyn Coker opens one of many gifts she received at her retirement party. IE Commission Chairman Gordon public servant. Norris congratulates the retiring A' 4 4 ,> .~,: ~1>iK N ~.1* Julia Faye Davis, deed specialist in the property appraiser's office, and her retired co-worker, Judy Nickerson, serve the many well-wishers at the celebration. PHOTOS BY JIM KELLY The annual Christmas lun- cheon was held Dec. 23 at the Range Cattle Research and' Education Center. In top photo, receiving service pins (from left) are Andrea Dunlap, five years; Cindy Holley, 15 years; and Shirley Searcy, 30 years; with Dr. Findlay Pate, center director since 1983. He plans to retire in June. In mid- dle photo are Dr. Herb Chapman and wife Muncy with W.C. and Janice Moye. Chapman was center director from 1965 until 1981, and Dr. W. Gordon Kirk held that posi- tion from 1941 until 1965. The bottom photo shows (front row) Ruth and Kathy Hodges with Dr. Elver Hodges, project leader at the center from 1942 until 1980,. with daughter Margaret Hodges Blanco. Bessie Boyd Enjoys 49th Winter Current Zolfo Springs winter vis- i, tor Elizabeth "Bessie" McEwen Boyd, celebrated her 93rd birthday .. on Dec. 9. She is also enjoying her 49th winter in Florida. She was born in the Clinton. ., Ontario, farming community on Dec. 9, 1911. one of five sisters. One sister still owns the family farm. Bessie McEwen married Charles S'.Boyd on March 17. 1934. and they are the parents of three daughters: Ruth Fisher and husband Ross of Goderich. Ontario; Beth Walton and husband Joe of Barrie, Ontario; and Barbara Bergey and husband Ted of ;- Mississauga, Ontario. All three daughters and husbands .,. also winter in Florida, the Fishers at Lazy Acres Mobile Home and the Waltons and Bergeys at The Bluffs. S In 1956, the couple first spent a few weeks camping at the old '.campground at the Zolfo Springs ..Town Hall site in a small home- ..The art of progress is to pre- serve order amid change and to preserve change amid order. -Alfred North Whitehead The best thing to give to your Enemy is f, :giveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good '"' example; to a father, deference; *:' to your mother, conduct that ~.wvill make her proud of you; to ' yourself, respect; to all men, charity. -Francis Maitland Balfour Bessie Boyd made camper that he had built. They later graduated to a trailer and camped near the swimming pool at Pioneer Park. They purchased their first motor home in the early '70s and parked at Pioneer Park. Cracker Lake RV Park, and for many years at Lazy Acres MH Park where she now lives. Unlike most of her neighbors, she was fortunate that her mobile home only suffered minor damage from the recent hurricanes. The Boyds farmed all their work- ing life on the farm where Charles' was born near Winthrop. Ontario.. Bessie recounts how she.would get up at 4 a.m. in order to bake bread. get breakfast for the .family. get the children off to school and then go to the field to operate a tractor to assist In Zolfo Springs her husband with the farn work. She even helped him overhaul trac- tor engines, definitely knowing the'' difference between a piston and a valve! After getting the fields plowed in the fall, they would head south the four or five winter months, but by' mid-March. it was back to.Ontario and planting time. Bessie still attends the United Church of Winthrop where she has been a lifelong member of the church and United Church Women. She attends the First United Methodist Church of Wauchula in the winter months and is active in the United Methodist Women's Ada Parker Circle. She also is a member of the Wauchula Wednesday Musicale. NMr. Boyd was a talented singer and was in great demand for church events and weddings. For many years, he sang in the choir of,the First United Methodist Church of / Wauchula. The couple traveled extensively in Canada and the United States. Bessie has also visit- ed England and Wales,, from where her McEwen ancestors migrated to Canada. Each year daughter Barbara dri- yes her mother from Se'aforth to Zolfo Springs and back. The 93- year-old recently upgraded from.a 1988 to a 1997 Oldsmobile and dri- S'es herself during daylight hours. When at home in Seaforth in the summer, she is an active flower gar- dener, mows her, large lawn and- plays cards several times a week with her friends.. Trevor Thomas Northside Welcomes Trevor Thomas Jan. 12 On Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. Northside Baptist Church will wel- come Trevor Thomas. 'Often referred to as- "Mr. Drama," Thomas combines music,- monologues, poems, sketches and niime with humor and sincerity. The church's pastor, the Rev. Jimmy Morse, invites the public to attend. For more information, call the church at 773-6947. The church is located at 912 N. Eighth Ave., Wauchula. Life is either, a daring adven- ture or nothing. Year At Jan. The Catheryn McDonald Senior Center at 310 N. Eighth Ave. in Wauchula is still the meeting place for seniors every second Saturday of each month. The 'center has been remodeled , after Hurricane Charley, and it is an attractive, large room for fellow- ship. Theresa Myers will decorate the room in a winter wonderland theme and food will be served potluck style starting at noon. Those planning to attend on Saturday, Jan. 8, should bring a covered dish to share. A dish or tray to eat on plus silverware are neces- sary. Drinks and rolls are provided by the club. Paper cups are fur- nished. Thirteen people attended the lun- cheon in December. The roast beef was prepared-by Carol Myer, and decorations were loaned by Winona Hansen and Theresa Myers. Special readings were presented 8 Meeting by Winona Hansen and Theresa Myers, and Carolyn Bailey sang "Mary Did You Know?" Roberto ,LaLoma sang and played the key- board, marocos, and a squash with a pick. He also played Santa Claus and helped by giving out the pre- sents from the gift exchange. The crowd sang "Away In A Manger," "The First Noel," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "It Came .Upon, The Midnight Clear," "We Three Kings," "0 Come All Ye Faithful" and "Joy To The World." Carol Myer played the piano for all the singing. Gift bags were given to everyone. Entertainment for the January meeting has not been obtained. If anyone has a talent they would like to present to a group of senior citi- zens, call 773-6612. Playing Bingo may substitute if a guest performer is not found in time. Theresa Myers Reporter YOU Can Appear In ... Poet's Place Are you a poet? Let us show itl Your work could be published in this newspaper in "Poet's Place," a weekly feature which relies solely on reader submissions. Poems must be your own original work, written by you, not someone else. To appear in this feature, send your poet- ry, name and town of residence to: Poet's Place, The Herald- Advocate, P.O. Box 338, Wauchula, FL 33873 or fax 773-0657. Senior Citizens Begin New r kr~,stIssr