What can you say about a special community of special individuals that came together on one special afternoon to make one of their own feel exceptionally special?......thank you would be a good start.

To Jerry Cain and Jerry Miles, thank you for being the catalysts that displaced disbelief with the resolve that something had to be done to recognize a remarkable woman. To Eleanor’s Visitor Center/Purple People volunteers, friends and family: Gail and Paul Appledorn, Diane Cudzilo, Harold and Arlie Denomme, Don and Dave Garbe, Lois Grate, Bruce Hansen, Marilyn Higgins, Ed and Dolores Kehe, Roy and Bev Kinsey, Darline and Marvin Leader, Margie Martin, Palmer Rurup, Jane Minnier, Evelyn Munn, Elaine Rugg, Debbie Skehen, Margie Slater, Vicki Thompson and Jean Yanish for organizing, supplying and serving the food and beverages while attending to all the details that made the event so special.

To program participants John Cutillo, Alan Cruikshank, Greg Bielli, Mike Scharnow, Pam Aister, Darline Leader, including Don Lawrence and Tait Elkie through written statements and the many individuals who at the open mic shared impromptu heartfelt, humorous and revealing insights of the gift that Eleanor has been to her community, the Chamber Visitor Center, multiple organizations, family and friends.

To John Brockelman and Donna Yordy from the Presbyterian Church for their help and support…..audio and visual can always be a challenge but John was there to overcome the glitches and Donna helped cover our unexpected extra tables!

Thanks to the Flower and Gift Shoppe for staying open past 5 p.m. so we could pick up Eleanor’s corsage...whew!

Most of all, thanks to everyone who helped lift and remind Eleanor of what an asset and gift she has been and is to this community, her family and precious friends…thanks for the memory.