Morris E. & Lillie Bell Lear - A Gift Beyond Measure Congratulations! You’re Having Triplets! Hospice of San Angelo Building Nears Completion 2021 Legacy of Love Honorees 2020 Memorials & Honorariums + Much More ISSUE NO. 14 • MAY, 2021 LEADERSHIP LETTER BY STEVE MARTIN, PRESIDENT & CEO gave of their time, energy, and resources testimonials reflecting on how they feel to benefit West Texas Rehabilitation about West Texas Rehab and our story Center and the patients we serve each featuring volunteer extraordinaire, day. Many of these special folks have Liz Bates! given to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center’s Foundation, which will benefit Ultimately, all of these folks come today’s patients as well as patients together to provide outstanding care to who have not even been born. Folks over 650 patients each day in our like Morris and Lillie Bell Lear, whose facilities in Abilene, San Angelo, and kindness will resonate with West Texas Ozona. Patients who know, that when Your co-op. Rehab for years to come. it comes to the best care available to them, the only CHOICE is West Texas Your money. West Texas Rehab has been blessed Rehabilitation Center. Cooperative Returns. A Symbol of Our Spring is in the air and hope springs over the years by our donors and Strong Partnership. eternal. In spite of what we have all volunteers who help us make great Thank you for your continued support, things happen each and every day for generosity, and kindness. May God When you borrow from Capital Farm Credit, you dealt with related to COVID 19 and our our patients. West Texas Rehab can bless each and every one of you, your become something special — one of our owners. February “freeze out,” spring is a time for renewal and newfound optimism. only provide the highest quality care to families, our patients, and West Texas That means when our borrower-owned cooperative more than 650 patients every day, Rehab! H has surplus earnings, you get your share through In John 16:33, Jesus told his disciples, because our donors make it possible for our patronage dividend program. Since 2006, “I have told you these things so that in us to invest in state-of-the-art equipment, All our best to you and yours, CFC’s combined cash returned and allocated me you may have peace. In this world advanced certifications for our clinicians, equities for members, is more than $1.8 billion. you will have trouble. But take heart! I and regularly-renovated facilities. Partner with a lender that really pays. have overcome the world.” It is so Together we’re better. comforting through ALL of our trials Facilities such as the new home for our 2020 PATRONAGE DISTRIBUTION: Partnership that really pays. and tribulations that have occurred Hospice of San Angelo programs and $88.5 Million in Cash since March 2020, that God has seen services, which will be completed and $55.0 Million in Allocated Equities* this coming, and we are getting through occupied in May 2021. This $4.3 mil- it all much stronger than we were lion dollar facility will help enhance our $143.50 MILLION TOTAL before. hospice and bereavement services. 2020 distribution based on 2019 earnings. *Allocated equities paid on 2012 loans. In this issue we remember 26 We could not do what we do each day individuals who, during their lifetimes, without our amazing employees and our wonderful volunteers. I hope you will take a moment to read our patient TABLE of CONTENTS] Published by West Texas Rehabilitation Center 2 Leadership Letter 21 2021 Legacy of WestTexasRehab.org 3 Foundation Spotlight Love Honorees d 5 Patient Spotlight 18 Legacy of Love 7 Hospice Spotlight Previous Honorees Design & Layout © 2021 Zoom Advertising Design 9 Volunteer Spotlight 23 2020 Memorials 281.794.2745 • ZoomTexas.com [email protected] 14 Calendar of Events 47 2020 Honorariums Equipment Wishlist capitalfarmcredit.com 16 Morris E. & Lillie Bell Lear NMLS493828 Several years ago a couple that lived in Brownwood, Texas completed their life journey and left a wonderful blessing to West Texas Rehabilitation Center in their On the Cover estate plans. 1 WTRC Round-Up Connect with West Texas Rehabilitation Center ar WestTexasRehab.org 2 FOUNDATION SPOTLIGHT BY CHUCK RODGERS, VP DEVELOPMENT, WTRC FOUNDATION the Sheriff of Crane bequest exactly how they desired, County Texas for is a great example of how gifts to the next twelve the Center through your will can years. After leaving accomplish goals that are important to office in Crane he you and make a difference for children and Lillie Bell raised and adults for generations to come. H cattle, horses, and hunting dogs on several ranches they bought, worked and then sold in Texas A full and Oklahoma. The Life last ranch property Morris Lear, born in Travis they owned was in County, Texas Zephyr, Texas. Lillie + Bell was a fulltime Lillie Bell Reese, born in housewife but loved Austin, Texas to help “M.E.” in working their various ranch endeavors. Borrowed $25 and got Married She would rope and in Lockhart, Texas ride and tie calves right beside him Moved to Crane, Texas from dawn to dusk. Over their lifetimes Morris worked for Gulf Oil Morris E. & Lillie Bell Lear Morris and Lillie Bell bought, worked and sold multiple ranches in Texas and Morris joined the Navy after the Several years ago a couple that lived in Oklahoma. attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 Brownwood, Texas completed their life journey and left a wonderful blessing to They sold their last ranch outside After the war, Morris went the West Texas Rehabilitation Center in Zephyr and moved into Brownwood. back to work for Gulf Oil in their estate plans. They lived a modest and conservative Crane, Texas lifestyle all of their lives and invested Morris Edwin Lear was born in Travis very wisely. Morris and Lillie Bell Morris became Sheriff of county Texas, the second of four never had children of their own but Crane County, Texas children born to C.W. “Walter” Lear truly loved and wanted to help children and Betty Lee (Jones) Lear. Lillie Bell whenever possible. They were married Morris & Lillie worked ranches Reese was born was born in Austin, for sixty two years. in Texas & Oklahoma Texas to Jim and Ida Reese. Morris and Lillie Bell were married in Lockhart, Mr. and Mrs. Lear had made their They sold their last ranch in Texas. Lillie Bell was only nineteen estate plans with very specific Zephyr, Texas years old and had to convince her instructions. They split their bequest mother to permit her to marry Morris. evenly between the West Texas Moved to Brownwood, Texas Morris had to borrow the twenty five Rehabilitation Center and St. Jude dollars they needed to get the marriage Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Morris & Lillie split their bequest Turkey Creek Ranch Clarendon, TX license and pay the preacher who Tennessee. They wanted to be sure between the West Texas performed the service. They moved their generous bequest was not used Rehabilitation Center & St. Jude to Crane, Texas where Morris went to for operations or endowment purposes, Children’s Hospital. work for Gulf Oil Company. but instead directed that their gifts be used for capital improvements only and Morris entered service for the U.S. to facilities that would benefit children Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor for many years to come. Their gift A gift beyond in December of 1941. He honorably allowed West Texas Rehab to remodel served as a member of the Sea Bees the majority of the fifty year old Abilene construction corps of the United States campus and give a true facelift to the Navy during WWII. After the war he San Angelo Campus. Measure worked for Gulf Oil Company in Crane Experience the Ekdahl Edge for several more years before becoming The Lear’s ability to direct their www.ekdahlrealestate.net 325-773-3676 3 WTRC Round-Up Connect with West Texas Rehabilitation Center ar WestTexasRehab.org 4 PATIENT SPOTLIGHT BY SUZANNE CLICK, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING PATIENT SPOTLIGHT wonderful advice. I know her treatment is preventing future issues that could arise.” West Texas Rehab is so diverse and blessed to be able to provide the best care with the highest level of expertise and technology. Our women’s health program is just another level of commitment we strive to bring to the communities we serve. Getting to know Shree was a gift. Anyone under these circumstances J’Lynn, Addiline & Rain • Born October 30, 2020 would have every reason to complain but she is committed, driven and beautifully content. And if you are As a women’s health specialist, Shree Hampton wondering...the triplets are ALL Dr. Cordes specializes in treating GIRLS! Congratulations! You are having... conditions related to the pelvis, and can improve quality of life by easing painful, disruptive symptoms. Because TRIPLETS Can you even imagine? For Shree Hampton, this was in fact a reality. When I first met Shree, she was 26 weeks pregnant and ‘still in shock’ she confessed. Statistics vary, but research suggests that conceiving triplets naturally occurs 1 in every 9,000 births. “I love being a Mom,” 10/30/20 Shree exclaims. My first born daughter told me she had prayed for three babies, so I guess God heard her. We are blessed. Shocked, but blessed.” UPDATE: Since this letter was written this therapy addresses the pelvic the triplets were born! Understandably, pregnancy with region including the hips, pelvis, and J’Lynn • Addiline • Rain triplets can lead to complications, so for low back, it is no surprise it has wide J’Lynn, Addiline, and Rain made their applications for specific groups of Shree, her obstetrician knew that the way into this world on October 30th, patients- including women who are Women’s Health Therapy Program at 2020.