Not many people can say they have loved their job for 50 years and every hour worked has been filled with joy and admiration for each other and their talents. Shirley Kendall, LPN, CST and Ruth Alexander, RN have worked at Trace Regional Hospital for a combined total of 100 proud years.
Mrs. Ruth Alexander, RN began nursing school in 1952, a graduate of Greenwood Leflore Hospital Nursing program. She began her career in Roswell, New Mexico in Obstetrics where after a few months she was promoted to 11-7 Supervisor.
Her career with Houston Hospital (now Trace Regional) began in 1959. She worked in OB and transferred to Surgery in 1961. In 1969 she was promoted to Department Head of Surgery and earned $3.62 per hour.
Ruth thought she was going to retire a few years ago and enjoy her travels but her colleges have managed to keep her at least part time.
Mrs. Shirley Kendall, LPN, CST began her career in 1957. She was in the registered nurse program in Grenada, however, the Director died 11/2 years into the training and it was canceled. Shirley finished her nursing education at Sunflower Junior College and Grenada. She was the first licensed LPN to work for Dr. John Dyer and Houston Hospital. Ms. Kendall stated Dr. Dyer was a great teacher. He taught the staff care and respect for all the patients. He set the example and lived it.
“I always felt working in surgery was my calling,” Kendall said.
Kendall said she never regretted getting her RN degree as she loved surgery so much.
“I took classes in the beginning of my career but if I were an RN, I might not be allowed to work in Surgery,” Kendall said.
Other areas of the hospital where she has worked has been in various clinics, Med/Surg floor, Emergency Department and Floy Dyer Manor.
Other members of their nursing team in the early years were Beatrice Oswalt RN, Mary Evelyn Andrews RN, Neva Edwards LPN, Carolyn Davis LPN, Sara Norris LPN, Vivian Ellison RN, Dorothy Jean Criddle RN Director Nursing, Martha Gravatt ORT, and OR supervisor Joann Monahan RN. Current surgery staff for Trace Regional are Chris Chandler RN, OR supervisor, Joetta Tillman RN, Sarah Dodd RN, Ruth Alexander RN, Becky King RN, Shirley Kendall LPN and Wendy Frederick LPN. Dr. Ron Staten, General Surgeon and Jody Cromwell RN, CRNA, both sing praises for their staff. Shirley and Ruth both said they love working with this team.
Both Shirley and Ruth have special stories and memories with laughter and tears from over the years, they talked about working in laundry folding linen, filing patient xrays, working in the cafeteria, and filing charts in medical records. They are experts in cross-training on the job.
While I listened to their stories and the many memories each have from over the years, I realized just how blessed our community is to have such compassionate, dedicated and giving people to take care of us when we are sick or injured. I could only sit in awe of how much they have loved each other, their co-workers which are actually life long friends. They worked long shifts and at the end of it all, smiled and knew they had been a part of something wonderful in helping the well being of another human.source
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