Happy Mother's Day!- To Our Office Mother!

So this week we are going to have a special addition of the blog for Mother’s Day.  At Hurricane we have 8 Mothers the work in the office, so of course we want to wish them and all the Mothers out there a Happy Mother’s Day. 

Today, this blog is going to cover a very special Mother at Hurricane.  Many of you are wondering who is this person, well that would be Kadeon and Sheldon’s mother, Kathy.  I would personally consider Kathy the Office Mother, if you don’t feel well she is checks on you though out the day.  If you are having a bad day, she seems to always show up at the right time to just ask how you are doing.  When she hears you having a rough time, she just happens to walking by and has words of wisdom that always hits the right spot. 

Many drivers don’t always get the joy of talking with Kathy because she works very hard in her office and normally gets to the office before anyone else.  So today I have asked Sheldon to give me some stories about Kathy. 

Here is a little bit that Sheldon shared with me-

            Kathy was born in Utah, grew up in New Mexico and went to Santa Clara University in California. She has lived in California, New Mexico, Utah, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oregon, South Dakota, Virginia, Pennsylvania and in the jungles of Mexico.  She had children born in California, Oregon, Kentucky and Arkansas. She came to Arkansas with Eddie and their 3 young children in a small school bus with bunk beds.  They lived in the school bus and an army tent for almost a year while Eddie was building their house.  The school bus is still on their property where it was parked over 40 years ago.  For approximately 20 years she lived on 40 acres (outside of Pettigrew) that was surrounded by National Forest on 3 sides.  All four of her kids were raised there.  They didn’t have indoor plumbing, hot running water or electricity.  Our closest neighbor was 2 miles away on a private road that was originally a logging road.

She homeschooled all of her 4 children for varying amounts of time.  Her oldest daughter was homeschooled through 11^th grade, her other daughter was homeschooled through 9^th grade, Kaedon was homeschooled through 8^thgrade, and Sheldon was homeschooled through 4^th grade. She helped found an alternative school (Headwaters) in Pettigrew, Arkansas and taught there.  The school is still in operation.

Kathy loves gardening and plants.  She enjoys crocheting, she has crocheted blankets for all 9 of her grandchildren. She enjoys hiking and takes breaks during the day to just step outside to enjoy the sun for a minute.  She is an active Catholic.  Once a month she delivers Communion to the sick.  Many of the recipients are elderly people in nursing homes.  At one point she had her CDL learners permit.  She has driven a loaded tractor trailer on our highways.  She said that the greatest thing about it was that the trailer followed her wherever she went.

Here are some quotes by office staff-

You can tell that Kathy’s is a strong, loving and wonderful person by the way her kids have grown up to be kind, respectful and hard workers.  Her kids have their own families now and they are being raised the same way.  There is no greater compliment I could think to give a mother. -Deborah  

Kathy is one of the most honest and nicest people that I have ever known, even if she tries to keep it a secret.  When my mother passed away, Kathy was there.  She didn't leave me while I was waiting on a ride, she cried with me and afterwards she was the sincerest and caring person in a sea of condolences.  She always remembers the little things going on in people’s lives and inquiries about them long after others have forgotten.  I consider her to be one of the most interesting, caring and beautiful souls that I know. -Christie

I love the fact that she always asks about my kid and how she is doing in life and takes the time to listen about my family.  Not many people in a work place do that, so it is very special that she come back weeks later to check on them. -Amber

So as you can see, Kathy is very important person here in the office.  She can be the calm in our storm, the light when it is cloudy and to be honest she can be very funny and blunt about what she has to say. There is nothing better than to her hear giggling.

           I feel like this blog gives you a better look at everyone in the office and sometimes it gives me a look into their life I would have never seen.  I have had lots of drivers come into the office and tell me they never knew such and such did that.  I found writing this piece about Kathy that most interesting thing I have written so far.