Butterfield Residential Care Center's Butterfield Express November 2016

Butterfield
EXPRESS

Volume 27, Issue 11

November 2016

Butterfield Residential Care Center is an affiliate of CMH, Bolivar, Mo., 417-326-6000
Facility Location: 1120 North Butterfield, 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
Residential
Care
Center

Willa Hankey,
Resident of the Month
Congratulations to Willa Hankey on being
selected as Resident of the Month! Willa was
born on Dec. 4, 1922, in Rondo, Mo., to Jim
and Katie Franklin. She had four older brothers,
Claude, Carmel, Carl and Dee. The family lived
on a farm near Dry Fork River and, being a
daddy’s girl and loving the outdoors, Willa was
often found either helping her dad with farm
work or fishing with him. When Willa was in
seventh grade, the family moved to Bolivar.
Willa graduated from Bolivar High School in
1941.
In June 1941 Willa married Ralph Hankey.
They couple moved to St. Louis, Mo., shortly
after they were married and Ralph completed
aeronautical training. He received a job at Curtis Wright Aircraft, which eventually became
McDonald Douglas. Six months after Willa and
Ralph married, the U.S. entered World War II.
Ralph was eventually drafted into the United
States Navy and was stationed in California.
The couple’s oldest daughter, Barbara, had
been born and Willa was determined to be with
Ralph in California. She and a friend, who had
three children, drove by themselves to California from Missouri! When the war ended, Willa
and Ralph came back to Bolivar and their second daughter, Karon, was born.
Next they moved to Wichita, Kan., where
Ralph worked for Beech Aircraft and their
youngest daughter, Jane, was born. The family
then moved to St. Louis and Ralph worked for
McDonald Douglas again and Willa went to
Beauty College. The couple decided they didn’t
want to raise their daughters in the city and
moved to Buffalo, Mo. Ralph owned a welding
and machine shop and Willa owned a beauty
shop, “Willa’s Beauty Nook.” After their
daughters finished high school, Willa and
Ralph moved back to Bolivar.
Ralph and Willa then had the opportunity to
travel and took several trips in their motor
home. Barbara’s husband was in the U.S. Navy
and the Hankeys traveled often to visit them
and their grandchildren. Highlights of their

visits with them included traveling to Oahu, Hawaii and Key West, Fla. While in
Key West, they had the opportunity to have
dinner and watch a movie on a submarine.
Ralph and Willa were also very active in
their church, first at Louisburg Baptist in
Louisburg, Mo., and then Southern Hills
Baptist in Bolivar. Ralph was a deacon and
Willa taught Sunday School. Willa has
enjoyed cross-stitching and crocheting for
several years and she continues to share
her talent by crocheting baby caps for the
Madison’s Angels chapter of Newborns in
Need.
Willa has many grandchildren: seven
grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and
three great-great grandchildren. On her 85th
birthday, her grandson took her on a hot air
balloon ride! Something she had always
wanted to do, but never had the opportunity. The Hankeys enjoyed their grandchildren together and loved taking them camping at local lakes. Their daughter, Barbara,
lives in Bolivar; Karon, and husband Mark,
live in Buffalo, Mo; and Jane, and husband
Bruce, live in Kansas City.
Thank you for sharing your story with
us Willa. You bring joy to all around you
with your sweet spirit and kindness. We are
blessed to have you as part of our 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 Martin, BRCC.