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The Pinecone
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March 2016
Johnnie Wilborn
Congratulations
employee of the month
Johnnie Wilborn is an employee that you will never hear say, “that is not my resident or that is not
my job”. He is a team player and encourages others to function as a team. Our residents request him
even on his off days. He works with a smile and stays on a task until it is completed. He works extra
when needed and never complains about the work load. He is gentle and kind to the residents and
always looks for a way to better serve them.
- Anna Bradford, Nursing Home Administrator
If you have walked on the 4th floor of the DWing, youmay have wondered about the
somewhat risqué label on the beverage cup on the shelf outside D406. “PROPERTY
OF DICK RANDALL’S CAT HOUSE”. D406 is Dick Randall’s last cat house.
Raised on my grandparent’s farm in Wisconsin, cats (once as many as 17) were
welcomed and loved by grandparents and me. Besides being pets, they helped
control rodents and were rewarded with the first fresh milk fromGrandpa’s bucket.
My late wife shared my love of dogs and cats. The first pet my wife and I had was
a dog, 2 months older than my Son. The dog detested cats, but for years was forced to coexist with 4 cats.
When our 17 year old dog passed away, the three children did not want to replace him and from then on we
had only cats.
Over the years, we had a total of eleven and when my wife passed away we had six. All were indoor cats,
neitered and spayed, played and enjoyed each other.
Having this “cat family” limited my ability to visit far-away relatives and friends. I could not have my nearby
daughter care for the cats for an extended time. On a short trip to visit my aunt in Arizona, I got the idea of
owning a recreational vehicle (RV) and taking my cats with me.
Renting an RV for a short trip to Arkansas proved the cats would travel and even enjoy it. I bought my own
RV and over the next several years traveled through 14 states and Canada probably making themsome of
the most traveled cats in the country. Patterned after a little magnetic sign, I put signs in English, French and
Spanish saying “CAT HOUSE OF MEMPHIS”. A fun loving cousin gave me the beverage cup.
Time took its toll and five of the six passed away after 15 to 17 years.
When I was planning on moving to Kirby, it was comforting to know
that my last one, Cleopatra, would be welcome. She spent her last
six months in my apartment and enjoyed the balcony, screened to
prevent an unwanted fall.
Marmalad and
Marmaduke
“The Twins”
Marmaduke,
Cleopatra
and Richard
THE
CAT
HOUSE
by Resident, Richard Randall