Residents’
Review
October 2019
Volume 32, Issue 10
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!
Hazel Belcher,
Resident of the Month
Hazel Belcher was born Nov. 24, 1930, in Arcola, Mis-
souri to Jim and Lucille Cates. Hazel’s father and mother
owned and operated a 60 acre farm 7 miles south of Stockton
where they raised cattle, hogs, turkey, chicken and ducks.
They also had a large garden. Hazel is the 9 th youngest of 11
siblings. Her brother, James, died when he was 9 days old
and brother, Georgy, in World War II. Her family was never
able to have closure for Georgy’s death because his remains
were never found. Her sister, Martha, passed away from ty-
phoid fever when she was only 16 years old. Hazel has three
sisters still living, two reside in Washington and one in Boli-
var.
Hazel attended country school, Bishop Grove, near
Stockton. When she was in grade school, her father went to
Neosho, Missouri to help build Camp Crowder. During
World War II, when Hazel was 12, he moved the family to
the state of Washington to make more money. Her father
worked in the orchards spraying fruit trees and her mother thinned and picked the fruit to make enough
money to meet the needs of their large family. The family moved back to Missouri about five years
later and bought a house on sixty acres. This is when Hazel met the love of her life, Kyle Belcher.
Kyle lived on a farm not too far down the road from Hazel’s family and when they met it was love
at first site. The couple dated for a short time and she married him on July 19, 1948, when she was just
17 years old. He was 8 years her senior and their friends would always say he robbed the cradle, but
she said, “it was the perfect age difference and we never said a cross word to each other.” The couple
owned and operated a 100 acre farm where they milked cattle for 22 years. They were never able to
take a vacation because they couldn’t be away overnight due to having to milk the cattle. Later, Kyle
became a carpenter and built houses all around Missouri. Hazel always loved cooking and her and
Kyle always loved to eat. “We both really enjoyed eating my fruit pies,” said Hazel. They always
wanted to have children, but were unable to and adoption cost too much.
The highlight of Hazel’s life was marrying Kyle and spending close to 54 years of happiness with
him. The couple enjoyed getting together with friends and playing cards throughout the years. They
also raised fox trotter horses and loved to ride them and go fishing. Kyle loved to coon hunt and had a
foxhound that he would take with him. The foxhound went missing one day and ended up at the neigh-
bor’s house. Their neighbor’s, Carolyn and Denny Austin, brought their dog back to them and from
that moment, 41 years ago, they became great friends. Kyle and Denny often went coon hunting to-
gether and Carolyn has always been a good friend to Hazel and said she is very grateful for their
friendship. Kyle fell ill and was placed in a care facility for 2 ½ years before he passed away in 2002.
“During that time I only missed two days of going to see him and still miss him dearly,” said Hazel.
When asked what advice she would give the younger generation, she said, “If you want to do some-
thing, do it while you are young. Don’t wait until you are old and can’t do it anymore.”
Hazel became part of our CMHCF family in July of 2012. She said “When you cannot take care of
yourself anymore, CMHCF is a great place to be!” She enjoys playing bingo, cards, most other games
and attending the birthday and holiday parties.
Congratulations, Hazel, on being chosen as CMHCF’s Resident of the Month!