Good Shepherd
Community Care
& Rehabilitation

Good Shepherd Community Care & Rehabilitation

 

Below are excerpts from two separate articles that appeared in the Lockwood Luminary in July of 1966 and written by Mabel Gipson.

 

In August of 1959, Dr. T. D. Combs offered to donate a site for the construction of a nursing home in the city of Lockwood. On September 10, 1959, a Citizens’ Committee composed of representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, American Legion and the Business and Professional Women’s Club formed a Planning Committee to assist the Lockwood Township Board of Trustees in planning and building the proposed nursing home. H.M. Rader was selected as Chairman and John Billingsley as Secretary. The John E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Oklahoma, had offered a gift of $50,000 was held. Necessary plans and specifications to be used in the erection of the building had previously been presented to the federal Hill-Burton Committee and the State Welfare Committee for their approval of a direct grant of $100,000 to match the Mabee and bond issue funds. Necessary legislation, enabling disbursement of funds by a township board for purposes other than for roads, had been passed by the state legislature.

 

In October of 1959, Smith Township joined Lockwood Township in the nursing home project, and the bond issue carried with only 54 dissenting votes in the two townships. Paul Rich, an architect from Springfield, was given the contract for drawing up building plans for the home.

 

On October 23, the Citizens Committee met and selected the name “The Good Shepherd” proposed by Dr. T. D. Combs, as the name of the home.

 

On October 22, Dr. T.D. Combs, Mrs. Carrie Combs, his wife, and Miss Olga Ossenforth deeded real estate for the construction of the home.

 

On March 30, 1960, The Johnson Construction Company of Springfield was awarded the contract for the construction of the home.

 

In April of 1960, it was found that a deficit of $10792.40 in necessary building funds was anticipated by the building committee and numerous citizens of Lockwood and Smith Townships signed an agreement to raise the sum of $11,000 needed to take care of the additional costs in erecting and equipping The Good Shepherd Nursing Home.

 

On April 9, 1960, a group of interested citizens of Smith and Lockwood Townships met to organize an auxiliary to The Good Shepherd Nursing Home. The Hill-Burton Committee had suggested such an organization was advisable. By-Laws were adopted and Bob Nieman was elected to head the organization.

 

In May of 1960, the executive board of the auxiliary was asked by the building committee, to act as purchasing committee to buy furnishings for the home. A group of members drove to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to view the Sparks Manor Rest Home and to observe their furnishings. Construction of the building and purchasing of needed equipment was progressing according to plan.

 

On September 22, 1960, proposed By-Laws for the home were presented to a lawyer for conference with the Hill-Burton Committee as to suitability.

 

In October, open house for the dedication of The Good Shepherd Nursing Home began to enter the plans of the Auxiliary and the building committee.

 

In November of 1960, a board of trustees was selected from the five original sponsoring organizations to serve with Smith and Lockwood Townships Boards to conduct business relative to the incorporation recommended by Attorney Harry Neal, H.M. Rader, John Billingsley and Bob Nieman met in Jefferson City with attorney Harry Neale and Neil Wortley, of the Hill-Burton Committee, to discuss required procedures. It became necessary for a lease to be obtained from Lockwood and Smith Townships leasing the ground and nursing home to the newly organized corporation for a period of 99 years. By-Laws were adopted on November 28, 1960. These were later revised to meet state requirements.

 

January 29, 1961 was set as the date for open house for The Good Shepherd Nursing Home. Mrs. Zetta Snadon was employed as Superintendent. The 40-bed home, first to be built in Missouri with federal participation, became a reality, a culmination of the efforts and dreams of Lockwood and Smith Townships residents. At the dedication ceremony, Neil Wortley, state director of hospital and nursing home licensure, landed Lockwood as an example to the rest of the state.

 

The home had cost $120,000 to build and equip, with $52,000 contributed by the Mabee Foundation of Tulsa. Mr. Mabee passed away the week before the open house ceremony and a moment of silence in his memory was made a part of the program at the open house for The Good Shepherd Nursing Home. An estimated crowd of over 2,500 people were present for the dedication ceremonies.

 

Many requests from interested prospective residents were received by the home following open house. A doctor’s certificate stating the health record of those entering as residents was made a requirement for consideration for residence. A regular board meeting date was set as the first Tuesday in each month, at which all business transacted by the home was approved and needed plans made.

In September 1961, having met the numerous requirements of the State Welfare Department, the home was dually licensed as an approved nursing home.

 

At the December 1961 meeting of the board, the Gray Ladies Organization was offered the use of the dining hall as a meeting place for a training school. The calendar year of the corporation was clarified, with the annual board meeting date being set as the first Tuesday in January.

 

At the annual meeting in January 1962, a rental fee of $1.00 per year was set to be paid to the two participating townships, Smith and Lockwood. It was reported at this meeting that all of the rooms were rented and on file was a waiting list sufficient to keep the home filled for some time. Residents of Smith and Lockwood Townships were to be given first preference as home residents, with their resident fee to be some smaller than other residents. Francis Steenrod of Kansas City, auditor and accountant, was retained to prepare quarterly and yearly audits of home accounts.

 

The board voted at the February 1962 meeting to construct a 20x30 ft. block building adjacent to the home and to equip it with laundry facilities.

 

In December 1962, the board voted to hold an annual public meeting each year within 50 days after the first of the year, this meeting to be for all Lockwood and Smith Township residents. The annual report of the home would be presented at this meeting.

 

February 1963, revision of the By-Laws was thought to be advisable to make the manner of election of the corporation members a voice of the voters of the townships rather than election by community service clubs. This board was to be chosen as follows: “any resident of Smith or Lockwood Townships having attained the age of thirty years, wishing to file as a candidate for membership in the corporation must file a notice of such candidacy with the board secretary of Lockwood or Smith Townships, not less than 15 days prior to election, with appropriate notices to be placed in the Luminary.” From Lockwood Township, two would serve for a four year term, and three for a two year term. From Smith Township, two would serve for a two year term. “Elections of members to succeed those whose terms are expiring are held in each township every two years thereafter on the last Tuesday in March and all members are elected for terms of four years each until their successor is elected. No member may succeed himself by election or by appointment.” All of the members of this elected corporation constitute the Board of Directors which has charge, control and management of affairs and funds of the home. 

 

First meeting of the new board was held in April following the March election. Officers were elected and meetings proceeded according to former schedule.

 

In February 1965, delegates from Grant and Marion Townships met with Good Shepherd Nursing Home Board to discuss the question relative to the acceptance of the two townships in joining of Smith and Lockwood Townships in forming a Nursing Home District. Following preliminary plans and elections, the Good Shepherd Nursing Home District came into existence by direct vote of the people; this district was subdivided into six districts by the County Court in compliance with Senate Bill No. 120. The Nursing Home District Board is comprised of six members as follows: one from the West Ward and one from the East Ward of the City of Lockwood; one from the rural area of Lockwood Township; one each from Smith, Marion and Grant Townships. This Nursing Home District Board now leases the home to the Good Shepherd Nursing Home Corporation. The By-Laws of the home were amended to increase the membership of the Corporation to 17 members as follows: Lockwood Township, 5 members, Smith Township, 4 members, Marion Township, 4 members, Grant Township, 4 members. The members were elected as had been previously stated. These 17 members serve as the governing board of the Good Shepherd Nursing Home.

 

Residents of the Good Shepherd Nursing Home are proud, and justly so, of this home and point with pride that it not only provides a “home away from home” for the residents, but is one of the leading places of employment in the community.

 

In reviewing the history of the Good Shepherd Nursing Home, it is with humble thanks to Dr. T.D. and Mrs. Carrie Combs and Olga Ossenforth for the land gift on which the home is built; to the Mr. and Mrs. Joe E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Oklahoma for its generous gift; to the Hill-Burton Committee, and to the taxpayers of the nursing home district. Numerous memorial and other gifts given by friends and relatives of the residents have made possible the purchase of numerous items which add to the comfort and enjoyment of the residents. The Nursing Home Auxiliary and Gray Ladies have given untiring devotion during the past years. Churches of the community have ministered to the spiritual welfare through Sunday services, Sunday school and other religious programs.

 

Now the time has come when more rooms are needed to meet the accommodation of those wishing to make the Good Shepherd Nursing Home their place of residence. Voters of the Good Shepherd Nursing Home District will vote on the $120,000 bond issue August 23, 1966. Polling place is the American Legion Hall in Lockwood.