Residents’
Review
March 2019
Volume 32, Issue 3
Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility is an affiliate of CMH, Bolivar, Mo., 417-326-6000
Facility Location: 1218 West Locust, Bolivar, MO 65613, 417-326-7648
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Resident of the Month 1
Activity Photos 2
Employee Spotlight 3
Announcements 4
Calendar of Events 5
Birthdays 6
New Residents 6
Discharges 6
Sympathy 6
Our Mission
Caring for every generation
through exceptional services by
leading physicians and a
compassionate healthcare team.
Our Vision
Be the first choice for customer
focused healthcare to every
generation.
Our Values
I am...
P ositive
R espectful
I nnovative
D edicated
E mpowered
Together, we are CMH PRIDE!
Virginia Erven
Resident of the Month
Virginia Erven was born January 11, 1923, in Parsons, Kansas to
Mr. and Mrs. Harry B. Provolt. Virginia had three siblings. Her
brother, Harry, was the oldest, Dorothea was her oldest sister, and
Susanna was the baby of the family. Virginia’s father worked in
construction and her mother stayed at home to raise the children.
Virginia attended several different schools including Walnut
Grove, North Kansas City, Green Mound, Gibson, and graduated
from Goodson high school. She then moved to California and went
to a business college where she earned certificates in nursing for
young babies and for bedfast people, and a telephone operator
certificate.
While attending high school a nice young man named Jamie Orel
Erven, whom most called Orel, saw Virginia and asked one of his
friends who the cute little brunette was and his friend said, “That’s
Virginia.” Orel replied, “Well that’s the girl I’m gonna marry!”
Virginia said they were just friends in high school and never went
on a date. One Sunday afternoon, in the Spring of 1942, when Virginia had moved back home from
California, her mother told her that Orel stopped by the house to see her when she was gone to Bolivar
with some friends to get a bottle of pop. That fall in August he joined the Navy and was stationed in
New London, Connecticut. A month or two later Virginia received a letter in the mail from Orel that
said, “I love you. Will you marry me?” Virginia immediately sent a letter back to him that said, “Yes.”
She then quickly began shopping for a wedding outfit. As soon as Orel arrived back in town on Fri-
day, Nov. 27, 1942, the couple headed to Carter’s Jewelry in Bolivar to buy their wedding rings and
discussed their plans to marry the next day. Virginia, her parents, and sisters went to town to get gro-
ceries on the very snowy and slick Saturday, Nov. 28 and just like Orel and Virginia had planned, the
couple ran into each other at the grocery store. Orel asked, “Are you ready to get married?” She said
yes and they left the grocery store and all headed to the courthouse. Her family witnessed their
marriage.
Orel and Virginia had four wonderful children. Jamie was their first born, then Joyce who passed
away in 1996, Cherie, and Kevin. They have 9 grandchildren, many great-grand grandchildren and a
handful of great-great-grandchildren.
Virginia worked at a government plant in New London, Connecticut where they made aluminum
tubes for toothpaste, ointments, and other things while Orel was stationed there. They also farmed,
raised cows, hogs, sheep, and goats near Halfway. She was also a community leader in 4H for 35
years. She loved working with the kids and it was very important to her to help them learn and see
them succeed.
Virginia and Orel were married for almost sixty years and he told her that at their 60 th wedding
anniversary he wanted to have a big wedding at the church to renew their vows. Virginia asked him
why he wanted a big wedding sixty years later and he said, “We have been married sixty years from
having a ceremony in the courthouse and I bet we would be married another sixty if we were able to
have a wedding at the church.” Sadly, a few months before their 60 th anniversary, Orel passed away.
“The highlight of my life was the night I was saved on Nov. 12, 1964. I will never forget that glori-
ous day!, said Virginia.
Virginia’s hobbies growing up included many things! She especially liked to sled, ice skate, and
roller skate. She also loved playing basketball, softball, and volleyball throughout high school.
Virginia joined our family at CMHCF in November 2018 and enjoys playing bingo, horse races, mak-
ing new friends, and trying new games.
Congratulations, Virginia, on being chosen as CMHCF’s March Resident of the Month.