The Mt. Vernon Education Foundation inducted our two newest members to the MVEF Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at the MVEF Black and Gold Gala at the JW Marriott Indianapolis.
Congratulations Linda and Lorainne!
Written by Jan Viehweg, MVEF Distinguished Alumni Chair
Linda Lowder Garrity graduated in the class of 1973. She enjoyed being a high school varsity cheerleader for 3 years. She met her husband David Garrity the summer after graduation – already told you he’s a Mt Vernon grad too- and they would have two boys (also MV grads), and now have 5 grandkids (3 attend MV schools).
But I am getting ahead of myself:
Linda did not grow up wanting to go into nursing. She joined the Health Careers club at Mt Vernon that was sponsored by Gladys Shumway. That club sparked her interest in health care.
She started working for Dr. Anderson’s office right out of high school.
Linda reports being a non-traditional college student, taking her first college class at age 29. She told me that she did her homework along with her kids. She attended Ivy Tech for her LPN, and then IU School of Nursing in Indianapolis where she became a RN at IU Health Methodist for 27 years – she spent many years in Labor/Deliver and Mother/Baby – providing nursing care to 1,000s of new moms and babies (she even delivered a few of those babies). As an educator at various IU Health locations, she taught prenatal classes for 22 years, educating 1,000s of expectant parents.
Other career highlights included attending one of the very first Alzheimer’s education seminars in the early 80’s and caring for the first AIDS patients in the mid-80’s. She volunteered for the MVCSC AIDS Advisory Committee when the earliest policies were being written in schools.
After IU, she went on to be the RN/Community Education Coordinator for Hancock Regional Hospital for 9 years.
- She brought numerous support groups and education opportunities to our county including (but not limited to)
- Breastfeeding Support Group
- Baby Bump Club STARTED
- Parkinson’s Support Group
- Senior Social Groups
- Heartbeats Health Fair
- Senior Health Expo
- Better Choices, Better Health STARTED
- Dementia Friendly Training
She wrapped up her time at Hancock Regional by working the COVID hotline in summer/fall 2020.
No matter where she has worked or volunteered, Linda’s passion for pregnant women and children as well as senior citizens shines through.
Linda’s list of volunteer positions held is longer than my arm. She’s been a first aid volunteer for the Pan Am games, State Fair and the Speedway. She founded several organizations in our county that directly impact families.
She’s taken medical mission trips. She has been an advocate for women’s and children’s health at the local, state and national level and has been a poll and election day worker here at home.
So now I’ll just tell you how she’s serving our community CURRENTLY
- she serves on the Hancock County Child Fatality Review team
- is a board member for Prevent Child Abuse Coalition
- is very involved with the Hancock County CASA – CASA director, Marciann McClarnon Miller describes Linda as “a tireless champion for the CASA program in Hancock County.” Linda is not only an advocate for two families now – she volunteers in the office and runs our social media.
- serves on the Central Indiana CICOA advisory council and is the current President of the Hancock County Council on Aging
- is also helping to administer vaccines through the Hancock Co Health Dept
I asked her to pick her most meaningful community services activities. As you can imagine, she found that to be difficult. She told me she feels like she is called to both the young and old ends of life’s spectrum.
One additional beautiful program that Linda brought to Hancock County is the Nurse’s Honor Guard. Michele McGill from Hancock Regional Hospital shared with me, “As a result of Linda’s dedication to her nursing career, an honor service is now offered in Hancock County and surrounding areas to families of LPNs and RNs who have passed on. When we are called upon to provide a memorial service, we wear our “whites”, recite the Nightingale Pledge and prayer, and present a Nightingale Nursing Lamp to the family of the deceased.”
Jeanine Gray, Stillinger Funeral Home, added “Families we serve are overwhelmed with pride knowing their professional nursing loved one is honored and remembered in such a touching manner.”
All of us have incredible life experiences that shape us or remind us we are right where we are supposed to be: Linda has had some doozies.
In 1988 her son was run over by a combine – he was lifelined to Methodist – she was there at work.
This led to her work with Farm Safety for Kids – raised awareness through interviews and speaking appearances.
Some of you in the audience may remember this story but you might have forgotten that it was Linda– on June 16, 2017 Linda was eating in a local restaurant and saved a 4-year-old girl from choking. That’s all in a good day’s work. But LATER THE SAME DAY, she was the first medical responder to a multiple vehicle accident on SR 9 that involved a van full of children. Linda says that was “PROVIDENCE.”
2020 brought her a major health issue – COVID even caused her surgery to be delayed but she has persevered.
I asked Linda what key life lessons she has learned. She told me:
- Resilience
- Always keep on going
- Can always find places that you can help to fix
- Put yourself out there – you will find that your skills and experience matter
- Community connections will always help you find the next right thing.
Linda Garrity, your deeds and character exemplify outstanding achievements in your life’s work and service to our community. I am pleased to present you with the Mt Vernon Education Foundation Distinguished Alumni Award.
Lorraine Ewing grew up in Hancock County as part of a farm family – her dad was an AG teacher.
She was a member of the MV class of 1969 – first class at the new high school.
As a student, she loved learning. She was a majorette in the marching band and fondly remembers trips to march in parades. She also loved preparing for the annual Extravaganza.
Her middle school Home Ec teacher was Bertie Worthington – Lorraine remembers summer camps where Bertie taught sewing in the morning and cooking in the afternoon. Bertie made learning fun. This inspired Lorraine to become a Home economics teacher.
Lorraine is married to Bill (a MV grad) and has 3 sons (all MV grads). She also has grandchildren. She got her teaching degree from Purdue University, and her master’s from Ball State.
Her first job was a teacher/coordinator of an alternative school in Wayne Township. She had a short stint at Greenfield schools and in 1983 became the Family and Consumer Science teacher at MV where she stayed until she retired in 2007.
As a teacher, Lorraine says she had a lot of favorite colleagues, but fellow distinguished alumni Darrell Thomas stands out. He gave staff the freedom to do the job they were hired to do. They all knew they were planting seeds to help students grow. Lorraine stays in touch with her former co-workers. In fact, Lorraine reports that her last outing before COVID hit was to meet up with a group of other retired teachers.
In addition to the thousands of students impacted by Lorraine, her community service brought balance to her life whatever stage she was in. She found there is always a need to help others.
She was a 10-year member of 4H as a student and was drawn to the community service components of 4H. As an adult, she became a leader with Nancy Terrell Miller. They started the Shining Shamrocks club and Lorraine led that for 10 years.
As a teacher, she coordinated the MV chapter of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). She loved helping kids with their projects and watching them find their own strengths through hard work. FCCLA had a community service component as well and their chapter found ways to serve and benefit Hancock County. Notable organizations that received help were Hope House, many nursing homes and Imagination Library.
The year after Lorraine retired, she saw an ad in the paper to give tours to children at Tuttle’s Orchard. She says this is the most fun job she’s had where she can be with school-aged kids and not have to grade homework.
The Hancock County Community Foundation has been a grateful recipient of Lorraine’s time and talent. She served for 9 years on the board and various committees. Her passion for Education continues through her service to HCCF. She has been a member of the Imagination Library Steering Committee since its inception in 2015 and is its current Chair.
She is a fund founder with her husband Bill of the Ora Callahan Family Scholarship Fund. She and her siblings follow her parents’ legacy by annually presenting scholarships to eight 4-H members honoring achievement, citizenship and leadership. This award is coveted by the 4-H community and has been presented since 1963.
2020 brought unique challenges to everyone. Early in the pandemic, Lorraine realized she had friends in the Sew and Serve Indy group. She knew she had the time and skills to join them to make masks. She jumped in to sew but she also coordinated others to pick up and drop off materials and donations. She stayed connected to the schools during this time as well. She made PPTs for teens to show them how to make the masks. She made mask kits for the FACS teachers at MV so students could practice sewing but could make a difference too. Lorraine PERSONALLY MADE 3,325 masks that were donated to hospitals and other health care workers at a time when PPE was in short supply.
Lorraine says, when you can’t do what you do, you do what you can.
One of the best parts of coordinating the distinguished alumni process for MVEF is the chance to learn about these amazing MV grads and that includes gathering quotes from their colleagues.
I’ll wrap up with a few comments that show the impact Lorraine has made at Mt Vernon.
Tammy Bauchert was Lorraine’s first hire when the family and consumer science department expanded in 1999, Tammy says, “Lorraine is the reason I am at MVHS. Together Lorraine and I spent countless hours developing the FACS curriculum. She taught me how to put students first. Lorraine is always the positive force behind everything I do as a high school teacher. Even though I miss working with her in the classroom, she is still a great mentor and friend that is only a phone call or text message away. “
Karen Riesterer, another MV colleague, told me, “I have so many fond memories of Lorraine! The thing I cherished the most about working with her is her encouraging attitude. Lorraine continues to send uplifting notes, texts and gifts to the FACS Department. Her acts of kindness and professionalism are top notch.”
Karen shared my quote request with Megan Addison who is a 2004 MV grad and a current MV high school FACS teacher. Megan sent me a note, “Lorraine inspired me to become a FACS teacher through her dedication to her students and the community. Lorraine has spent countless hours passing on her wisdom and skills to others. My favorite memories with Lorraine were the summers I spent as a student sewing my 4-H outfits with her help. She is such a compassionate person with a heart for service!”
Life has a way of coming full circle.