Published: April 04, 2007 09:01 am            

McAlester native to speak at ladies' luncheon

By TERESA ATKERSON

Family Editor

McAlester native Jeanie Lee Dancer will be the speaker for the annual Ladies’ Holy Week Salad Luncheon set Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, Second Street and Adams Avenue.

Dancer is the daughter of Dottie and the late Lee Stone, McAlester. She graduated from McAlester High School in 1983 and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, in 1987. She was named the Outstanding Senior Woman.

She is currently the manager of Strategic Partners at Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. She is responsible for the marketing campaigns of more than 20 airline, hotel and credit card partners. She won the 2006 Gold Award for outstanding customer service and was employee of the year in 2000.

She is also the commissioned lay pastor of the Robertson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Haskell. She has been a speaker at women’s retreats and has done pulpit supply preaching at various Presbyterian churches throughout Eastern Oklahoma for four years. She and her husband, Kelly, live in Bixby.

Ladies who do not work outside the home are asked to bring a large salad. Do not bring serving utensils. These will be provided. The ladies are asked to put some type of identification on their salad dish to ensure the dishes are returned to their owners.

Ladies who work outside the home should arrive by noon.

Music for this year’s event will be provided by Sally Hanway and Kirsten Warren Carrell, All Saints Episcopal.

The opening and closing prayers will be given by Peggy Grippando, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Mistress of ceremonies is Carol Durant, First Baptist.

The table decorations will be provided by Grand Avenue United Methodist Church. The ladies of First Baptist are hostesses. Publicity is under the direction of members of First Christian Church.

Committee members include Helen Lenardo and Durant, First Baptist; Jorae Patrick and Lorene Grant, First Christian; Judy Goodyear and Dorothy Turnauckas, All Saints Episcopal; Kimberly Thornton, Claudine Barringer and Lucille Ford, Grand Avenue United Methodist; Grippando and Liz Flesher, St. John the Evangelist Catholic; and Dot Thompson and Marilyn Murray, First Presbyterian.

The luncheons were started in 1973 by ladies from First Baptist, St. John’s, All Saints, First Christian, Grand Avenue United Methodist and First Presbyterian. The men of the community had breakfasts during the week preceding Easter since 1953 and the ladies felt they should have something to help observe the occasion as well.

The churches took turns hosting the luncheons but soon the attendance outgrew their fellowship halls. The luncheon is now held in the dining room at the Masonic Temple. Last year, approximately 400 ladies attended the event.

Contact Teresa Atkerson at family@mcalesternews.com.

        

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