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Today's Featured Biography

Eloise Wadkins

The day after HS graduation I started class at UMKC I was enrolled in Research RN training. I had been a Candy Stripper at Research Hospital in HS and always wanted to be a nurse. I moved to nursing dorm and continued at UMKC.
December 9, 1962, I met the love of my life at church and in 104 days we were married 3-23-63, our marriage has lasted 589 months and we are looking forward to our 50th anniversary.
The year of 1963 was a fun packed year. Elzie asked me to marry him on Feb.17th. It was a whirl-wind to redecorate our house, continue nursing training , and plan a wedding. My mother was a teacher and she didn’t want a wedding at the end of school. I got the dream wedding in 34 days. We moved the date up to March 23, 1963. During spring break for UMKC and Jr College @KC where Elzie was enrolled in Business Administration. We both helped to move Research Hospital as Elzie worked for Community Blood Bank. Fourth of July was special that year as I got pregnant and was forced to take a year leave of absence so I just transferred to Jr. College in Education and never missed any college during that time. March 23 we had our first anniversary and ate our top wedding cake. Then 6 days later our life changed forever, I was 19 1/2 and that day I became a Mother. Elzie became a Father. Ronald Dwayne Berry was a small miracle.

In 1966 we moved to a bigger house in Raytown, MO which was big enough for our daughter born o n April 15, 1967. We named her Tria Eloise Berry (Tria for third Eloise )as my mother was the first Eloise. I graduated from UMKC in Dec. 1967. Jan. 1968 I started teaching Montessori at Unity Village where our son attend preschool. I had been substituting for 3 years and I got my first teaching contract with Raytown School District in1968, teaching 4th grade at Eastwood Hills. September 1970 started the worst 6 months of my life, my mother was diagnosed with Cancer she lost her fight in Feb. 1971. My family really supported her in every way. Elzie changed his major to education, he taught my class as I went with her to Texas. 1972 Elzie started teaching at Pleasant Hill. We both taught fourth grade. Elzie was the 2nd President of GKCD of MSTA
In 1972 I was voted JC’s OUTSTANDING YOUNG WOMEN for Raytown followed by being voted OUTSTANDING YOUNG WOMEN for the state of MO for my work at Raytown Shelter Workshop. 1975 I was voted girl of the year for my Beta Sigma Phi , Raytown Chapter, and later also in Colorado 1983 chapter.
1976 we made a big change in my life to leave KC area. Elzie was hired as Elementary Principal for Laquey School. I started teaching Kindergarten, followed by Special Education Coordinator and Librarian. That was a hard 5 years with both teaching and both children in the same school district. We enjoyed having 10 acres’ and raising animals.
1981 we had a midlife crises and after a family meeting voted to relocate to Divide, CO. where Elzie never not a teaching job, he managed a 7-11, I taught at a psychiatric hospital and finally got a job in Woodland Park co-teaching High School Learning Disability. My only year to teach HS. Our son graduated from Woodland Pars as President of his senior class and our daughter enjoyed flags and band.
1983 we moved back to MO where Elzie became Elementary Principal at Stover, MO and I began teaching 1st grade in Windsor and afterwards taught 2nd grade for 22 years. Elzie started teaching Reading in Calhoun in ‘86 and taught for 22 years. During this time we both served as president of MSTA/Central District of MO. We became active in the Clinton Christian Church Disciples of Christ as Elders and Ministry Chairpersons. I am a DAR, Honored to be asked to Delta Kappa Gamma Education Society.
1994 we purchased land in Tightwad and built our home in ‘96. We enjoy our home located in 7 ½ acres of oak trees where birds, squirrels, deer, fox and other wild life live in harmony with a dog,2 cats and the coy in their ponds. Come see us 15 miles from Clinton or 15 miles west of Warsaw.
We both retired from public school in -06 and taught in a Christian school for 2 years, retired the second time in ‘08.
Future plans include our 50th anniversary (600 months) and a trip to Australia. We want to spend more time with our children. Our daughter, Tria lives in Biloxi, MS with 2 grandchildren Kelsi, age 13 and Blade 11. Tria is also attending college. Our oldest grand daughter Brittani Eloise (3rd Eloise) is in college in Mobile, AL studying massage therapy. Our son, Ronald currently lives and works in Jefferson City where he is Director of Policy and Procedures under Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.

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