Butterfield Residential Care Center's Butterfield Express March 2020

Butterfield
EXPRESS
Volume 31, Issue 3
March 2020
Butterfield Residential Care Center is an affiliate of CMH, Bolivar, Mo., 417-326-6000
Facility Location: 1120 N. Butterfield Rd., Bolivar, MO 65613, 417-326-5200
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Resident of the Month 1
Activity Photos 2
Upcoming Events 3
Residents’ Birthdays 4
New Residents 4
Discharges 4
From all of
us at
Butterfield!
Karen Gannaway,
Resident of the Month
Karen Cassell Gannaway was born Nov. 7, 1943 on a farm near
Stockton, Missouri to Willa and Richard “Lee” Cassell. She has
one older sister, Thelma Jean. They share an enviable sisterly
connection and are the best of friends! Karen loved domestic
duties from an early age as she began cooking at four years old.
Her own family would later lovingly refer to her as the living
Betty Crocker!
Tragedy struck when Karen’s father died suddenly from a
heart attack in 1954 when she was 11 years old. To make ends
meet, her mother attained her teaching license and taught first at
a one-room school and later at the Dadeville School District. Not
long after the passing of her father, Karen was diagnosed with
polio and scoliosis. From the ages of 12 to 18, Karen had more
than 20 back surgeries and spent a lot of time at the Shriner’s
Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. As a teenager, she had
to wear a 50 pound upper body cast that stretched from her waist
to above her shoulders. She could only stand or lie down and not
sit.
Karen married Lester Hull of Greenfield, Missouri, in 1962, and
they became the proud parents of Anthony “Tony” Lee on Dec.
23, 1963. Lester died in an 18-wheeler accident when Tony was
only one-year old. As a single mom, Karen worked factory jobs to
make ends meet. In 1966, she married Melvin Watson, also of
Greenfield. The couple welcomed a son, Timothy “Tim” Leon, on
March 6, 1967, and Melvin officially adopted Tony. Karen and
Melvin were divorced in 1977. Sadly, when Tim was only 23
years old, he was killed in a motor vehicle accident on Mother’s
Day in 1990.
In 1978, Karen married her junior-high sweetheart, Johnnie
Gannaway, of Bear Creek, Missouri. They were blessed with a
daughter, Johnna, on Oct. 22, 1980. After they were married,
Karen began driving an 18-wheeler for a living! She followed
Johnnie all around the country, but never did learn to back up
that truck!
Karen then decided to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a
nurse and accomplished her goal when she graduated from
nursing school in 1983. She was a Licensed Practical Nurse for
over 20 years at Northwood Hills in Humansville, Missouri.
In 1988, Karen purchased her childhood farm. She worked 12
-hour shifts at the nursing home, was a mother and wife, farmed
80-acres, raised 250 head of cattle and tended to various farm
animals. Johnnie continued to be an over-the-road truck driver
and was home most weekends. Karen’s best friend, Ada Mank, of
Humansville, spent many weekdays at the farm. Karen
and Ada worked together and were often inseparable.
When Johnna went to college in 1999, Karen and
Johnnie moved to Humansville. The couple lived within
one mile of Ada. In 2006, Johnnie and Karen divorced and
Karen continued to live in Humansville until 2014 when
she moved to Rose Park in Bolivar, Missouri. Karen was
diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2013, but underwent
surgery and has been cancer free since that time.
Karen is greatly loved by her family. Son, Tony Wat-
son, 56, of Stockton, Missouri, served in the U.S. Army for
over 20 years before retiring and now works as an over-
the-road truck driver. He married his wife, Brigit, while
on tour in Germany in 1985. They have four children;
David Witt, 37, of Springfield, Shari Watson Johnson, 33,
of Stockton (married to Jarrod and mother of Brooklyn
and MaKynlea), Amber Watson Jones, 27, of Stockton
(married to Seth and mother of Braxton and Rilyn) and
Tiffany Watson, 25, of Stockton (mother of Breckyn and
Miyah). Daughter, Johnna, of Bolivar, married Jarred
Mortensen in 2004 and is mother to Hayden and Evan.
Karen started a family tradition of nursing careers.
Her daughter and granddaughter are both registered
nurses and granddaughters Amber and Tiffany currently
have goals of becoming registered nurses in the future.
Karen enjoys visiting with family, reading, coloring,
listening to country & bluegrass music and eating fried
chicken.
Thank you for sharing your story with us Karen. You
are a blessing to our Butterfield family!
Are you a caring individual who would like to assist in caring for the elderly?
Butterfield Residential Care Center has opportunities in its volunteer program.
For more information call Tammie Callaway, BRCC administrator, at 417-328-6380.