Page 16 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2019- Online Magazine
P. 16
HONORING SENIORS
JOHN & TERRY WAGONER
THE PATH TO
Volunteering
by Jelaine Workman
Theology at SMU. 64, received her bachelor's degree in
Terry married and Nursing at West Texas A&M.
had six children
with her first They began volunteering in
husband. John Panhandle with the Crown of
became a Methodist Texas Hospice organization, which
pastor. Terry was later became Hospice Care of the
a Den Mother for Southwest and then BSA Hospice
Cub Scouts and a of the Southwest. The Wagoners
troop leader for have also worked with hospice
organizations in Muleshoe, Dumas
Recipients of the 2019 Older Brownies and Girl and Amarillo. They have enjoyed
American’s Month celebration Scouts. John remained single. When meeting families and their loved
in Amarillo were John and Terry Terry lost her second oldest child ones. They currently volunteer for
Wagoner. They were nominated by in a tragic accident, her marriage the AP Health and Palliative Care
High Plains Food Bank, Amarillo couldn’t withstand the trauma, and hospice organization, where they still
Senior Citizens Association, it ended. John served in churches in sit with patients who are in hospice
Palo Duro State Park, Polk Street Big Spring, Lubbock, Follette, Adrian, care, just to love on their families.
United Methodist Church and Merkel and Stratford, as well as the Although Sharla Valdez got them
the Harrington Assisted Living Student Center at WT. interested in hospice volunteering,
Community. It was in Stratford that the two Susan Thomason, volunteer
Before their paths crossed, the two met. Terry was working as an EMT. coordinator at AP, has kept them
had quite different experiences. John worked part-time driving the involved on an even more expanded
Terry grew up in the big city of St. ambulance for the small community. level.
Louis. John grew up on a farm in After an honorable three years of They also love working at the
the Panhandle. Terry graduated dating, they married. That was 28 Amarillo Senior Citizens Association,
from a Catholic high school (Rosati- years ago, and John says Terry is his where they get to see the same
Kain). John graduated from Pampa “first and last.” The two served in people each week who come to eat
High School. Terry wanted to be churches in Panhandle, Muleshoe lunch. They also call Bingo at the
a veterinarian, so she went off to and Dumas before semi-retiring and center. Terry says about John, “They
Colorado A&M. John received moving to Amarillo, where John love him, and he loves them.” They
his undergraduate degree from served as the chaplain for The Craig say it’s great fun and often gets very
McMurry College, and his Master senior community. Terry earned lively.
of Divinity from Perkins School of her Associate Degree in Nursing at
Amarillo College, and at the age of
16 Amarillo Senior Link
