In Memoriam - In memory of....
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Gail Levey
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How often do we get to realize our life's dream? After searching for just the right piece of property in central and northern California for years with no luck, I ran a nation-wide Google search for the homestead of my dreams. The very first search returned a simple ranch house on 5 acres with Bradford pears in front of the home - in Texas! Bradford pears were my dad's favorite ornamental tree, it was a sign! Best of all, the home was located just outside of a very small town located far enough away from a major metropolitan area to make my heart happy.
I called the real estate agent and made an offer that day, then began making plans to move to Ladonia, Texas to plant and grow Ground Up Organics, a sustainable farming operation using no harmful chemicals, but following restorative agriculture leader Joel Salatin and the humane wisdom of Dr. Temple Grandin. Holistic land management and humane animal husbandry practices, self-sustaining, earth-wise and responsible.
Moving here was the greatest gift. I didn't expect to be warmly welcomed, but the neighbors on the next property treat me like family and everyone I have come to know have been so kind. Once I was settled in, I joined the Chamber of Commerce of Ladonia. I've belonged to chambers in the past, both small and large, and small-town chambers are so much more than just business promoters, they are more civic oriented and all volunteer.
The Chamber of Commerce of Ladonia is the perfect place for people who have their community at heart. The vision of the chamber is to help shape the future of this small town in order to keep the small town feel while encouraging the types of businesses which can help our small faded town become vibrant, rich in the arts, music, good clean food, fun, family operated businesses which succeed enough to support the family and a small town too.
I look forward to a future in a thriving, creative, small town, where my granddaughter can learn the value of life and community right here in Ladonia.
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PK Kirkpatrick |
PK was an amazing woman. She taught her four children unconditional love & how to be good, caring, involved parents. She was blessed to be part of a close and loving family.
She owned her own plant store and she and her husband David also owned a telephone company.
She was a member of the North Texas Cactus and Succulent Society. She was also a member of the Ladonia United Methodist Church as well as the youth leader there for 10+ years, helping to shape young hearts and bring them the message of Christ. And she worked tirelessly on the Ladonia City Council to improve the community where she lived and loved.
She became a Texas Master Naturalist and was fascinated by fossils and hunted them for years in the North Sulphur River. She taught schoolchildren about fossils and brought her own fossils to her presentations, hoping to instill her love of fossils to future generations. (She made sure to drop fossils along their hunts so they could 'find' their own fossils).
She showed her 4 children the definition of love & marriage - she married her husband David while he was in the Air Force, and they spent 55 years of wedded bliss together. David’s devotion to her throughout their marriage and throughout her illness and her confidence to the end that he would be there for her is the definition of true love.
She loved her family and her Lord most of all. Her mind & body are healed at last. We know she's rejoicing as she hears those words "Well done my good and faithful servant."