Lucile Iverson in Celebrate Life Pageant

Lucile Iverson of Odessa represented Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center at the Celebrate Life Pageant hosted by the Spokane Chapter of the Washington State Association of Activity Professionals (WSAAP) April 24, 2012, at the South Hill Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Spokane. The pageant honors senior residents living in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities in the Spokane area.

Iverson’s escort for the day was her great grandson, Peyton Van Pevenage, one of the 23 members of her family who attended the pageant. During the pageant, Iverson shared some of her interesting life history with everyone:

“I was born near Lamona April 15, 1926, on the family farm in the house that was built the year I was born. My parents were George and Elizabeth (Hoernemann) Luiten. I joined my older brother, Wilmar.

I belong to Zion-Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Odessa. I attended country schools near Downs and Lamona and graduated from Odessa High School with honors. After graduation, I helped care for my mom, ill with cancer, until her death and did housekeeping and cooking for my father.

In 1945, I married my high school sweetheart, Bill Iverson, who had joined the Navy after high school graduation (1943), and we moved to Pasco, where he was stationed. I worked in Pasco, first as a waitress and then as a clerk-typist.

In 1948, we moved back to the family farm south of Lamona. We had three sons and two daughters. Bill’s health started failing in 1982, so we decided to retire from farming. We tried RV-ing one winter, liked it, and became full-time RVers, returning to some parks year after year. Each year when we returned, it was like a family reunion.

We added music back into our lives with me on the keyboard and Bill on the saxophone and became the Ivy Tones. We played golden oldies and sacred songs for sing-alongs at senior facilities and campgrounds. At one facility, one man began crying, then sobbing, as we played and sang. He even started to sing along and then talking to staff. The nurses were astonished, since he had shown no emotion since moving in. Wow, that did it, and we were hooked on bringing music to facilities.

Bill and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in May 1995. After Bill’s death in December 1995, I moved back to Odessa to be closer to more of my family.

I still play the keyboard and my daughter Judy leads the singing for the residents in Odessa. I enjoy crocheting (and teaching Judy), punch embroidery, reading and working on word-search puzzles.

Our five children have brought to the family three in-laws, 11 grandchildren (and eight in-laws), and, thus far, 24 great-grandchildren.”

One final thought from Iverson was this, “Thank You, Lord, for my loving family and the ability to serve You.”