I was raised in Norman, Oklahoma. I'm a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in Social Work. I've lived and worked throughout the USA, in places such as Cleveland, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, and Greeley, Colorado.
Since coming to Steamboat
With the help of a couple of local citizens, I started services for the aging in Routt County, including the first Meals on Wheels in Steamboat Springs, and the Routt County Council on Aging, Inc.
I was a Caseworker and then Director for Routt County Department of Social Services, both for several years.
I was one of the leaders in forming a local League of Women Voters.
I've served on various boards, including Mental Health, Horizons for the Handicapped (charter board member); Routt County Council on Aging, Inc., and United Methodist Church, to name a few.
I've taught part-time at Colorado Mountain College including classes about services for the aging, and classes designed for older citizens. One of the most interesting and most rewarding classes was "Writing Your Life Story." This class provided a format for persons to write (or in some cases, tell) how they had lived through such events as wars, the Great Depression, droughts, blizzards, moving to a new country or region, etc.
I've served several years on the Board of Directors of Steamboat Springs Realtors.

On a Personal Note
Interests outside of career and community service have included gardening (indoor and outdoor), cooking, appreciation of opera, musicals, art, ballet, and folk music.
There was a time in my life when I sewed many of my clothes, and knitted sweaters!
I still own a tent, sleeping bag and other camping paraphernalia, even though it is seldom used. I am one of the original members of Tawdry Tourers, a group of friends who would go cross country skiing each weekend, including a wonderful lunch on the trail.
I still spend time with some of my "older" friends, doing lunch once a week, visiting, and involving myself in Senior Wellness Initiative (Colorado Trust). Columbine Singers practice and concerts bring me joy. Voter education (distribution of pro/con information about ballot issues) and serving as an election judge are important parts of my life, as is spending time with my friends.
I love Oktoberfest each year, Apple Squeezings every fall, sitting at the dining room table and discussing current events.
There does not seem to be enough time in the world for me to read all the books that are stacked around the house, not to mention the ones to be checked out at the library, or to travel to all those countries that I have yet to visit. If there were time, I would be doing more traveling...opera in New York, San Francisco, Italy, Victoria Falls in Africa, fjords in Norway, White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg, rural areas of Italy, and more.