Stories from Friday, December 21, 2001

Children stand in the sale barn ring, surrounded by animals. Their eyes are focused on a doll baby -- a tiny, lifelike figure that symbolizes the newly born Christ child. It is a touching scene ... simple in form yet eloquent in content. "It is so moving," says Connie Jo Discoe, the Gazette's regional editor. "Many times, during and after the performance, I see tears trickling down the cheeks of those in attendance."...

Velma F. Greenlee GOTHENBURG -- Velma F. Greenlee, 92, died Thursday (Dec. 20, 2001) at Southview Manor Care Home in Cozad. She was born March 11, 1909, at Red Willow County to Thomas and Ida Mae (Downs) Masters. On Oct. 1, 1925, she married Alva William Greenlee. They farmed in the McCook and North Platte areas before retiring in 1971. They moved to Gothenburg in 1978. Alva preceded her in death in 1987...

Jay C. Hauxwell ARAPAHOE -- Jay C. Hauxwell, 90, died Thursday (Dec. 20, 2001) at his home in Arapahoe. He was born May 13, 1911 near the Willow Creek in Red Willow County to Rue and Angeline Janette Hauxwell. The family attended church at Box Elder which later became part of the Indianola Church of Christ where he was baptized as a teenager...

Krista Ka Parker BENKELMAN -- Krista Ka Parker, 12., died Sunday, (Dec. 16, 2001). She was born April 11, 1989, at North Platte to Jeff and Sherri (Kilthau) Parker. She was a member of the Girl Scouts and 4-H. She was a published photographer with a Barn Again picture traveling across Nebraska and a photograph published in the Mid-West Messenger...

Jeffrey Michael Parker BENKELMAN -- Jeffrey Michael Parker, 37, died Sunday (Dec. 16, 2001). He was born Oct. 12, 1964, at Benkelman to Roger and Florence (Manning) Parker. He attended school in Benkelman and graduated from Benkelman High School in 1983. He was baptized into the Christian faith Oct. 5, 1976, at the Church of Christ in Imperial...

There was a postscript to the story that I had in the column last week about the Red Willow County men between the ages of 45 and 65 having to register to vote. Those registering in McCook had to do so on the third floor federal building (Huegel's Old Post Office on Norris Avenue). The April 29, 1942, Gazette editorial stated that in the more than 20 years since the federal building had been constructed, the elevator had never been used...

If you are one of those people who shop all year long for Christmas presents and buy those last-minute gifts in August, stop reading right now. Besides, you probably have better things to do, such as sew next year's Halloween costumes and plan a New Year's party welcoming 2003...

It's incredibly easy when we deal with life on a day-to-day, hour-to-hour, sometimes minute-to-minute basis to forget about what life is really all about. Obviously, conclusions will depend greatly on who you are, what you've experienced and how you believe. But I believe there are some universal truths that apply to us all...

Ladies and gentlemen, check your calendars. Never mind that it was warm outside today, you mowed your lawn last week, and it has been unseasonably warm throughout the fall. Today is the official start of winter. A chance of rain and snow is forecast for tonight and Saturday -- just when many of us will be hitting the road for a long Christmas holiday weekend...

Florence L. Wickersham Florence L. Wickersham, 91, died Wednesday (Dec. 19, 2001) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born May 10, 1910, in Pierce County to William and Elizabeth (Davids) Schroeder. On Aug. 17, 1938, she married Harold Allen Wickersham at Lincoln. They spent their married lives farming west of Seward until retiring and moving into Seward in 1991. She moved to McCook in August 2000...